Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Japanese Americans faced significant discrimination in the United States, particularly following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Despite a lack of evidence of sabotage, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, leading to the forced relocation of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans into detention camps. These individuals, many of whom were U.S. citizens (known as Nisei), were given little time to sell their homes and businesses, often at greatly reduced prices.123

The camps, operated by the War Relocation Authority, were surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by armed soldiers. Internees lived in basic barracks with limited amenities. Despite these harsh conditions, many Japanese Americans attempted to create a sense of community by establishing schools, churches, and newspapers. In 1988, the U.S. government formally apologized for the internment and provided compensation to survivors. The Supreme Court had previously declared Japanese ineligible for U.S. citizenship in 1922.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.