Summary: In 1942, over 100,000 individuals of Japanese origin or descent were forced from their homes and incarcerated. Their detention was federally mandated. However, a federal investigation in the early 1980s concluded that Japanese Americans posed no military threat. In this lesson, students investigate a series of primary documents to address the question: Why did the United States government incarcerate Japanese Americans during World War II?
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: Have the concepts of liberty, justice and/or equality changed during the time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsDP.11.a: Use a variety of sources to determine if American policies towards the Japanese during WWII were a denial of civil rights.
Link to Lesson: Japanese American Incarceration | Digital Inquiry Group