The Japanese internment camps are one of the largest events in the history of the United States during the 20th century. With the relocation of the Japanese to the Pacific coast of the United States, one of ten internment camps, where they would spend the next 2 years trying to survive the terrible conditions. Japanese internment camps during the 20th century caused the Japanese to lose everything they owned, demonstrating the power the United States used against Japanese minorities, even as the United States was trying to protect its own citizens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Before 1853, Japanese leaders had isolated themselves from European countries and their colonies (Japanese introduction). During this time Japan was ruled by a monarchy, which meant citizens didn't have many opinions. The working conditions of the Japanese were not so good, they were forced to stay in their land because they had no good country to go to. Many of the workers worked in the agricultural sector. In 1853, US Navy Commander Matthew Perry “forced the reclusive nation to open trade with the United States” (Japanese Introduction). Japan began to adapt to the new technology that was offered to it, which led to a huge decline in agriculture. Many of its citizens have been forced to leave their homeland in search of new opportunities. The Japanese now had somewhere to go as the US had a really good opportunity compared to Japan. Many knew this and decided to come to the United States so that their children and their children could have a good life and good chances in life. Many knew that in the United States they would earn “ten times the amount of money possible in their home country” (Japanese immigrants). Many Japanese decided to go to Hawaii or the American Pacific coast. On May 6, 1882, the United States signed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This law was “one of the first significant laws in the United States that had an impact on immigration” (Our Papers). The law limited the number of Chinese allowed into the United States, causing the number of Chinese migrants to dramatically decline. This was important to the Japanese who were seeking a new life in a new land. Many plantation owners were banned from hiring Chinese workers, which led them to hire Japanese. Many saw this opportunity and decided to take advantage of it. Between 1886 and 1911, 400,000 Japanese citizens moved to the United States in search of new work and a new life. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Law, the Japanese became the largest ethnic group in the United States. Once they arrived in the new land, they usually found work in the agricultural sector or in factories. The working conditions were also not optimal, but they knew that it was an improvement and a sacrifice that they had to accept. Many of these workers ended up in these job positions because they received very low pay and worked longer hours than Americans. Companies were happy to have people like that because they could produce more at such a lower cost. Many U.S. citizens began to worry about the Japanese taking over every job. Most people in California were worried that the Japanese would reduce average wages. This led many Americans to hate the Japanese. Americans began to become hostile towards Japanese immigrants. On May 14, 1905, the Asiatic Leaguefor Exclusion, AEL, opposed Japanese immigration. AEL was able to complete some of its goals because it didn't want the Japanese to take their jobs or let them change how people will be paid. The AEL organization was very influential, especially in California, as it persuaded Asian children to attend segregated schools. However, more and more immigrants came to the United States in search of work. The hatred against the Japanese also began to grow even more. Anti-Japanese propaganda also began to occur when one of the most famous authors, Dr. Seuss, took part in the propaganda. Americans began to look at the government and complain because they were afraid that they had gained more control of farmland and that the average wage would decrease for the government. The government found a solution, but Japan had to reach an agreement with America. On March 14, 1907, an agreement was made between the United States and Japan, called The Gentleman's Agreement. The agreement with Japan was that they would limit the number of people going to the United States. While in the United States they would not impose any laws on the Japanese who are already in the country. Part of this agreement also called for “the San Francisco school board to repeal the segregation order” (Britannica). The immigration of Japanese to the United States causes many problems between the two groups of people. Americans began to hate the Chinese and not want them in their land because they thought they were making the Pacific coast of the United States and Hawaii worse. This caused a lot of racism during this time period. During the immigration, there was an anti-Japanese movement going on. There were many problems during this time as Americans were stereotyped, hostile, and had many racist acts. The hatred for the Japanese began to grow more and more. People used old prejudices that directly targeted the Chinese and now they used it against the Japanese. Japanese were also prohibited from marrying members of the other race, becoming citizens, purchasing land, and obtaining employment at certain companies. This prevented many Japanese from achieving a better life. Americans are starting to limit the migration of Japanese to the United States and their doing much in America. On September 1, 1939, World War II began between the Axis and Allied powers, Japan being part of the Axis powers. Since the Japanese were part of the war, many thought that the Japanese in America would also launch an attack on American soil. On October 7, 1941, during the war, Curtis B. Munson sent a 29-page report to the White House. This was before the United States entered the war. Munson traveled to California and the Pacific coast to monitor the Japanese situation. Munson concluded the report and in the report, he said, “they had some problems, but they are not a problem that the country needs to worry about.” This relationship was important because people feared that the war from the other side would be headed their way. Americans didn't want to get into another war after just ending World War I, just 20 years ago. On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise military attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, a Hawaiian territory. This surprise military attack by the Japanese killed 2,335 people, including 68 civilians (The Path to Pearl Harbor). Government officials were concerned that Japan had spies in the United States and that further attacks would occur in their homeland. Some Americans were very paranoid about being and having to live with the Japanese. February 19, 1942, two months laterAfter the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt established Executive Order 9066. "President Roosevelt was encouraged by the federal government and the group called the "Fifth Column" to protect the citizens of the United States. This occurred just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, this order gave the military "the power to transport any Japanese citizen, from Japanese ancestors to resident aliens from Japan" (Executive Order 9066) also transferred approximately 110,000 - 120,000 Japanese, most of whom came from the Pacific coast. Of the two-thirds of the prisoners in the camps were native American citizens, the US government almost completely ignored it. With the Executive Order, the Japanese had to move to 1 of 10 internment camps scattered along the west coast of the United States. From the populated camps at Manzanar and Santa Anita, both located in California, the least populated in Meyer Arizona. One of the most popular camps is Manzanar, with its first arrival of inmates on March 21, 1942, with a maximum population of 9,666. Many Japanese never knew where they would be transported and where they would be held captive. Many Japanese during the relocation could only take with them what they could carry only using themselves. Some even had to sell their properties and belongings. People who bought their homes and belongings usually bought the items at a really low price, which was unfair to the Japanese. The ten internment camps were built in deserts, plains, and swamps around seven states. The internment camps were surrounded by guard towers as if they were also surrounded by barbed wire. Many of the conditions in the internment camps were very harsh. The camps were “overcrowded and did not have the best living conditions as the walls on which they stayed were barracks covered in tar paper” (Internment in World War II). Most of the camps did not have the necessary household items, for example the barracks did not have any type of plumbing or cooking facilities. Food was rationed, but they still had to pay for it. People had jobs, but the jobs were in internment camps where they had to work very hard to get paid. Many Japanese realized that the food they received would not be enough to survive that long, so they decided to start their own small farms in their living area. Many were confused about how they were treated. Many Japanese born in the United States considered themselves Americans like Bill Shishima who was part of the camp, he said: “I knew we were so-called Japanese. I thought I was American too, but it turned out I wasn't. I always thought I was American” (Camp Survivors). About two-thirds of the Japanese sent to internment camps were born in the United States, and many called themselves American citizens. The United States gave the Japanese the option to leave the internment camps under one condition. The Japanese were required to enlist and serve in the army for as long as the war lasted. “Approximately 30,000 Nisei men served in uniform,” the term Nisei denoting a person born in the United States with parents who immigrated from Japan. “An all-Nisei unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, became the most decorated unit of its size in U.S. history” (Behind the Wire). The idea that this group of Japanese born in the United States is one of the most decorative units is very interesting. The soldier's family may be in internment camps while the son defends his country and turns his back on his.