7.1 Implementation of Executive Order 9066 and forced relocation

Executive Order 9066 authorized military commanders to designate "military areas" and exclude any persons, primarily targeting Japanese Americans on the West Coast. Signed by President Roosevelt in 1942, it resulted in the forced relocation of 120,000 Japanese Americans to inland camps.

The order suspended constitutional rights, denying due process and violating civil liberties. It set a precedent for government-sanctioned discrimination based on ethnicity, leading to long-term consequences for Japanese American communities and challenging American ideals of equality and justice.

Executive Order 9066 and Its Implementation

Provisions of Executive Order 9066

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• Authorized military commanders to designate "military areas" allowing exclusion of any persons primarily targeted Japanese Americans (West Coast)
• Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 responding to Pearl Harbor attack
• Used broad language allowing wide interpretation without specifically mentioning Japanese Americans
• Resulted in forced relocation of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans to inland camps
• Suspended constitutional rights denying due process and violating civil liberties (habeas corpus)
• Set precedent for government-sanctioned discrimination based on ethnicity leading to long-term consequences

Process of forced relocation

• Initial "voluntary evacuation" period proved short-lived and largely unsuccessful due to lack of resources
• Mandatory evacuation orders posted in Japanese American neighborhoods giving short notice to prepare (often less than a week)
• Assembly centers established as temporary holding facilities often located at fairgrounds or racetracks (Santa Anita, Tanforan)
• Permanent relocation centers constructed in remote, inland areas with harsh living conditions and lack of privacy (Manzanar, Tule Lake)
• Economic impact forced sale or abandonment of businesses and property resulting in loss of livelihoods and savings
• Social and psychological effects led to breakdown of family structures, erosion of cultural traditions, and long-lasting trauma and stigma

Government Agencies and Public Response

Government role in relocation

• War Relocation Authority (WRA) established to oversee relocation and internment, responsible for camp administration and detainee welfare
• Department of Justice operated separate internment facilities for "high-risk" individuals (Issei leaders)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted raids and arrests of community leaders immediately after Pearl Harbor
• U.S. Army managed the actual evacuation process and provided security at assembly centers and relocation camps
• State and local governments assisted in identifying Japanese American populations and facilitated property seizures and relocations

Public reaction to Order 9066

• Initial widespread support for relocation fueled by fear, wartime hysteria, and racist stereotypes (Yellow Peril)
• Media's role in shaping public opinion with newspapers largely supporting the policy using inflammatory language and imagery
• Dissenting voices from some religious and civil rights organizations opposed relocation but received limited coverage
• Portrayal of Japanese Americans often depicted as potential spies or saboteurs with little distinction between Japanese nationals and American citizens
• Long-term shift in public perception led to gradual recognition of injustice in post-war years and increased coverage of internment camp conditions and personal stories