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Japanese-American internment

Definition

Japanese-American internment refers to the forced relocation and imprisonment of approximately 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II. This policy was enacted based on fears of espionage and sabotage.

Analogy

Imagine being locked inside your own house for no reason other than sharing a common background with someone suspected of wrongdoing, even though you're innocent. That's what Japanese-American internment was like - innocent people being unjustly confined because of their heritage.

Related terms

Executive Order 9066: Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and authorized the relocation and internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Korematsu v. United States (1944): This Supreme Court case upheld Japanese-American internment as constitutional, despite later being widely criticized.

Civil Liberties Act of 1988: The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provided reparations and an official apology by the U.S. government to those who were interned during World War II.