To What Extent Did the Executive Actions of Franklin D. Roosevelt Set a Precedent for the Treatment of Persons of Japanese Descent in the Americas?

To what extent did the executive actions of Franklin D. Roosevelt set a precedent for the treatment of persons of Japanese descent in the Americas?

Eric Stadtfeld

(HL) IB History of the Americas

May 11th, 2017

Word Count: 2151

Table of Contents

Identification/Evaluation of Sources …………………………………………………………… 2

Investigation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

Reflection ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

Endnotes …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14

Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 15

Section A. Identification and Evaluation of Sources

This investigation seeks to answer the question: “To what extent did the executive actions of Franklin D. Roosevelt set a precedent for the treatment of persons of Japanese descent in the Americas?”

1. Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act

This source is a manuscript of the bill (H.R. 662) introduced to the 110th congress by U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra regarding the study of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. The aim of the bill was to extend the study and investigate U.S. relocation, internment, and (in some cases) deportation to Axis countries of Latin Americans of Japanese descent held in U.S. custody from December 1941 through February 1948. The secondary aim was to recommend appropriate remedies to Congress based on preliminary findings by the original Commission in addition to any new discoveries. It has value because it is analyzing the direct involvement that the U.S. had on internment of persons of Japanese descent outside of the country. It will also provide insight into the mindsight of the U.S. and foreign governments as to internment. The limitations of the source is that it is being conducted by the U.S. congress, and several decades after the fact, so the findings that are discovered would likely be to portray the U.S. in a more positive way, as well as to not place importance on the less desirable outcomes that U.S. was responsible for.

2. Japanese-Canadian Internment: “Banished and Beyond Tears”

This source is an academic journal written by James H. Marsh, and published in Historic Canada, which argues how the executive orders of Franklin D. Roosevelt influenced the actions of Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King in his decision to send all persons of Japanese descent to internment camps. The value of this source is that argues a direct correlation between Franklin D. Roosevelt’s executive order 9066 and PM Mackenzie King’s Order-in-Council P.C. 1486 in regards to their treatment of persons of Japanese-descent, whilst providing several first hand accounts from former Japanese-American internment camp prisoners. Much evidence, especially in regards to the similar conditions present in both United States and Canadian internment camps, is provided to support the claim as well. The limitations of the argument is that James H. Marsh is, although a very acclaimed and well respected historian, a Canadian citizen who is known for his admonishing of anti-semitism that was prevalent amongst Canadian government officials at the time. Also, the link that is described between Canada’s actions versus the those of the United States does not take into account the inherent prejudice that PM Mackenzie King had harbored.

Section B: Investigation

    The internment of Japanese-Americans and other persons of Japanese descent in the United States during World War II was one of the greatest humanitarian disgraces that occurred on American soil. The United States was not the sole nation, however, who violated the freedoms of persons of Japanese descent as other countries such as Canada and many of those in Latin America had taken decisive actions against the Japanese. The actions taken by the United States government were largely based off of racial hysteria towards persons of Japanese descent, and the result was the violation of the rights and personal liberties of thousands of people who were robbed of their properties and businesses, and forced from their homes into internment camps in far away lands. In turn, the US influenced the actions taken by the leaders and governments of other nations in the Americas against individuals of Japanese descent.