After the attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7th. 1941, Californians had fears that similar attacks would happen to their state. Some of these fears came true a few days after the attacks. Japanese submarines began to attack merchant ships off of California's coast.
After these attacks rumors began to swarm up and down California. Rumors included water invasions, landings, air fleets and secret air bases in California deserts. The worst being the thoughts of all Japanese people. Out of fear many people felt any and all Japanese people living in California were spies and working for Japan. It was believed by people that Japanese fishermen were mining harbors; supplying food, fuel and secret information to submarines off the coast; Japanese farmers were poisoning fruits and vegetables they brought to market.
This irrational fear lead to citizens of enemy countries (enemy aliens) being taken into custody under international laws defined by the Geneva Conventions and shipped off to internment camps as far away as North Dakota. Majority of them were Germans and Japanese who were known to the FBI and thought to be dangerous. California had the second largest enemy alien population in the nation. New York had the most with 1,234,995.
By February of the following year Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt, Commanding General of the Western Defense Command, requested authorization from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to evacuate "Japanese and other subversive persons" from the West Coast area. On February 19, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066 authorizing the Secretary of War or any military commander to establish "military areas" . A month later, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9102 establishing the War Relocation Authority, which eventually operated the internment camps. Roosevelt named Milton Eisenhower, brother of the future president, to head the WRA.
Soon posters like the below began to appear on the West Coast.
After these attacks rumors began to swarm up and down California. Rumors included water invasions, landings, air fleets and secret air bases in California deserts. The worst being the thoughts of all Japanese people. Out of fear many people felt any and all Japanese people living in California were spies and working for Japan. It was believed by people that Japanese fishermen were mining harbors; supplying food, fuel and secret information to submarines off the coast; Japanese farmers were poisoning fruits and vegetables they brought to market.
This irrational fear lead to citizens of enemy countries (enemy aliens) being taken into custody under international laws defined by the Geneva Conventions and shipped off to internment camps as far away as North Dakota. Majority of them were Germans and Japanese who were known to the FBI and thought to be dangerous. California had the second largest enemy alien population in the nation. New York had the most with 1,234,995.
By February of the following year Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt, Commanding General of the Western Defense Command, requested authorization from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to evacuate "Japanese and other subversive persons" from the West Coast area. On February 19, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066 authorizing the Secretary of War or any military commander to establish "military areas" . A month later, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9102 establishing the War Relocation Authority, which eventually operated the internment camps. Roosevelt named Milton Eisenhower, brother of the future president, to head the WRA.
Soon posters like the below began to appear on the West Coast.
It stated; "Instructions to all persons of JAPANESE ancestry... All Japanese persons, both alien and non-alien, will be evacuated from the above designated areas by 12:00 o'clock noon Tuesday, April 7, 1942." The evacuees were told to report with bedrolls and only enough baggage that could be carried by hand. A postwar survey showed that 80 percent of the privately stored goods belonging to the interned Japanese were "rifled, stolen or sold during absence."
Below are Japanese Americans being shipped off in Los Angeles.
Below are Japanese Americans being shipped off in Los Angeles.