Redress for Japanese Americans

The Lengthy Process of Redress for Japanese Americans After the surprise attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States grew concerned that people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast would revolt and aid the Japanese war effort and were considered security risks. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, giving the War Department authority to establish military areas in which designated people would be subject to whatever restrictions …

…finally admitting a wrong, a nation does not destroy its integrity but, rather, reinforces the sincerity of its commitment to the Constitution and hence to its people. In forcing us to re-examine our history, you have made us only stronger and more proud” (“Making Amends” 19). Hopefully, everyone will remember the transgressions committed against the Japanese Americans and the lessons learned from this bleak event in our history, and we will not find history repeating itself.