Immigration During 1930-1960
Introduction
In times of war, nationalism and prejudices especially against immigrants increase exponentially. This era is known is known as the Age of Xenophobia or fear of immigrants. When national security is at risk we look to our government to protect us from outside sources or threats. However, sometimes our government doesn't always make the most appropriate or ethical choices. America's attempts at remaining neutral and isolated also contributed to these injustice opinions/acts. War hysteria and other factors can often cloud our judgment and create unnecessary biases.
Primary Document
Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor ultimately led to hostility and prejudice against Japanese Americans during World War II. Around 120,000 Japanese Americans were interned into relocation camps during the course of World War II. Long after Japanese internment, the US Supreme Court re-opened the case Korematsu v. United States and ruled Japanese internment to be unconstitutional. Americans also exhibited prejudice against Jewish immigrants as well. Between the years 1933-1945 only 132,00 Jews were allowed to immigrate to America. In 1939, Congress denied immigration to 20,000 Jewish children refugees from escaping Nazi oppression.
Pictures
This propaganda depicts the anti-Semitism prevalent in American during this period. Many Americans were influenced by popular opinions at the time and not by actual fact.
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This political cartoon displays the motives behind Japanese internment in America during WWII. It illustrates Japanese people immigration to the west coast and "waiting for the signal from home". Many Americans believed that there were Japanese agents or spies waiting to attack Americans from inside the country which was one of the motives for Japanese Internment.
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Primary Source Video
This video was filmed in 1943 by the US government on the subject of Japanese Relocation and Internment. It relays the plan or strategy and the shows actual footage of life in internment. These plans were enacted to relocate Japanese American from the West Coast, should there ever be a Japanese attack. The video portrays internment as voluntary, temporary, peaceful, and mutually beneficial which we, as Americans, later realize was not the truth. Japanese Americans were wrongfully imprisoned by their own country and made to believe they were living in temporary communities for their own safety until the end of the war.