Ansel Adams Japanese - American Relocation And Internment At Manzanar With Historic Camp Films

Japanese Americans at Manzanar

“We had about one week to dispose of what we owned, except what we could pack and carry for our departure by bus…for Manzanar.” William Hohri

Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, led the United States into World War II and radically changed the lives of 120,000 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry living in the United States. The attack intensified racial prejudices and led to fear of potential sabotage and espionage by Japanese Americans among some in the government, military, news media, and public. In February, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing the Secretary of War to establish Military Areas and to remove from those areas anyone who might threaten the war effort. Without due process, the government gave everyone of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast only days to decide what to do with their houses, farms, businesses, and other possessions. Most families sold their belongings at a significant loss. Some rented their properties to neighbors. Others left possessions with friends or religious groups. Some abandoned their property. They did not know where they were going or for how long. Each family was assigned an identification number and loaded into cars, buses, trucks, and trains, taking only what they could carry. Japanese Americans were transported under military guard to 17 temporary assembly centers located at racetracks, fairgrounds, and similar facilities in Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. Then they were moved to one of 10 hastily built relocation centers. By November, 1942, the relocation was complete. 


CONTENTS By CHAPTER:


1.    Forward


2.    President Gerald R. Ford's Proclamation 4417, Confirming the Termination of the Executive Order Authorizing Japanese-American Internment During World War II


3.    Photographs 


4.   Patriots Under Fire: Japanese Americans in World War II


5.   Taking Action to Honor the Historic Patriotism of Japanese Americans


6.   Confession of Error: The Solicitor General’s Mistakes During the Japanese-American Internment Cases May 20th, 2011 - Posted by The Department Of Justice


7.   Return to Sender: U.S. Censorship of Enemy Alien Mail in World War II, Part 2


8.   Report to the President: Japanese-American Internment Sites Preservation


9.   Film - Japanese Relocation (B&W; Public Domain; 1943)


10. Film - A Challenge to Democracy (B&W; Public) Domain; 1944)


11. Film - Barriers And Passes (Color; Silent With Titles; Public Domain; 1940s)


12. Film - Our Enemy The Japanese (B&W; Public Domain; 1943)


13. Film - My Japan (B&W; Public Domain; 1945)


14. Films - Various Relocation And Internment Clips