The Japanese Canadian Question: WWII

The Japanese Canadian The Japanese Canadian Question: WWIIQuestion: WWII

Japanese Aggression…Japanese Aggression… Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with

the invasion of Manchuria and continued in 1937 with the invasion of Manchuria and continued in 1937 with a brutal attack on China.a brutal attack on China.

On February 24On February 24thth, 1933, Japan stuns the world and , 1933, Japan stuns the world and withdraws from the League of Nations.withdraws from the League of Nations.

White BoardWhite Board

Which American Holdings did the Which American Holdings did the Japanese take in the PacificJapanese take in the Pacific

JAPANESE AGRESSIONJapan would occupying Indonesia, parts of China, the Philippines, Malaya, Burma, and Singapore, anti- Japanese sentiments increasing

WHITE BOARD-What Nations were in the Central Powers during WWI?-What Nations were in the Axis Powers During WWII?

The Tripartite PactThe Tripartite Pact

On September 27, On September 27, 1940, Japan signed 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact the Tripartite Pact with Germany and with Germany and Italy,Italy,

Join "Axis." Join "Axis."

Embargo Against JapanEmbargo Against Japan

the United States, the United States, Britain and the Britain and the Netherlands froze all Netherlands froze all Japanese financial Japanese financial assets.assets.

prevent Japan from prevent Japan from purchasing oilpurchasing oil

DiscussDiscuss

Come up with 2 ways this actions Come up with 2 ways this actions could devastate Japan?could devastate Japan?

How could Japan get oil with out How could Japan get oil with out buying it from foreign nations?buying it from foreign nations?

Canadian SentimentCanadian Sentiment……

1939, British Columbia included 1939, British Columbia included around 21,000 Canadians of around 21,000 Canadians of Japanese origin, 75% of whom Japanese origin, 75% of whom had residence rights.had residence rights.

belief was Japanese are unable belief was Japanese are unable to assimilate into Canadian to assimilate into Canadian society as easilysociety as easily

Mackenzie King expressed “the Mackenzie King expressed “the extreme difficulty of assimilating extreme difficulty of assimilating Japanese persons in Canada”Japanese persons in Canada”

Japanese Bomb Pearl Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbour!Harbour!

December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt declares it “The Day of Infamy”.declares it “The Day of Infamy”.

The Battle of HongThe Battle of Hong KongKong

Hong Kong surrendered Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day 1941. on Christmas Day 1941.

Of the 1,975 Canadians, Of the 1,975 Canadians, 290 were killed and 493 290 were killed and 493 wounded. wounded.

A further 260 died A further 260 died inPOW camps in Hong inPOW camps in Hong Kong and Japan. Kong and Japan.

Loyalty of Japanese Loyalty of Japanese CanadiansCanadians

Japanese submarines are Japanese submarines are known to have been operating known to have been operating off the coast of British off the coast of British ColumbiaColumbia

Canadian military evaluations Canadian military evaluations suggested no imminent threat suggested no imminent threat by Japanese Canadians, by Japanese Canadians,

Many Canadians Feel no Many Canadians Feel no guarantee of the loyalty, or guarantee of the loyalty, or passivity of Japanese-passivity of Japanese-Canadians. Canadians.   

DiscussDiscuss

Why do you think Japanese were Why do you think Japanese were targeted at a much higher rate than targeted at a much higher rate than people of German background?people of German background?

The Canadian War Measures The Canadian War Measures ActAct

1914 – “gave the government 1914 – “gave the government sweeping powers to ensure the sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, order, security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.”and welfare of Canada.”

Used to imprison Used to imprison CANADIANSCANADIANS of of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI.descent in WWI.

1939- War Measures Act 1939- War Measures Act invoked- this allowed for the invoked- this allowed for the internment of enemy aliensinternment of enemy aliens

What should be done?What should be done? Resentment Resentment

against against Japanese Japanese Canadians Canadians exploded into exploded into panic and panic and anger in British anger in British Columbia. Columbia.

1,200 fishing 1,200 fishing boats were boats were seized by the seized by the Canadian navy Canadian navy in fear of in fear of spyingspying

Japanese Internment in Japanese Internment in CanadaCanada

■ The movement of 23,000 Japanese Canadians during the war was the largest mass exodus in Canadian history.

Internment TimelineInternment Timeline 1941 (December 8):1941 (December 8): 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats

are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close.close.

1942 (January 16):1942 (January 16): Removal begins of Japanese immigrant Removal begins of Japanese immigrant males from coastal areas.males from coastal areas.

1942 (February 24):1942 (February 24): All male Japanese Canadian citizens All male Japanese Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from 100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia.100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia.

1942 (February 26):1942 (February 26): Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew imposed.imposed.

1942 (March 4):1942 (March 4): Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a “protective measure only”. Eventually these Property as a “protective measure only”. Eventually these assets were sold and proceeds used to pay for the intermentassets were sold and proceeds used to pay for the interment

1942 (March 25):1942 (March 25): British Columbia Security Commission British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to “ghost town” detention camps.and children to “ghost town” detention camps.

Conditions in the CampsConditions in the Camps Housed in huts with Housed in huts with

two bedrooms and a two bedrooms and a kitchen kitchen

shared by two shared by two familiesfamilies

No electricity or No electricity or running water until running water until 19431943

Camp Conditions continuedCamp Conditions continued Hundreds of women Hundreds of women

and children were and children were squeezed into livestock squeezed into livestock buildingsbuildings

Slept on beds covered Slept on beds covered in straw for comfortin straw for comfort

Conditions were so poor Conditions were so poor that food packages that food packages were sent from Japan were sent from Japan through the Canadian through the Canadian Red Cross to those Red Cross to those suffering in the campssuffering in the camps

White BoardWhite Board

What other What other nations actions nations actions probably help probably help justify justify internment?internment?

End of the WarEnd of the War

In 1945, the government extended the Order in In 1945, the government extended the Order in Council to force the Japanese Canadians to go to Council to force the Japanese Canadians to go to Japan and lose their Canadian citizenship, or move Japan and lose their Canadian citizenship, or move to eastern Canada. to eastern Canada.

Even though the war was over, it was illegal for Even though the war was over, it was illegal for Japanese Canadians to return to Vancouver until Japanese Canadians to return to Vancouver until 1949. 1949.

Public protest would eventually stop the Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country.left the country.

Acknowledging Wartime Acknowledging Wartime WrongsWrongs

Forty-three years after the end of the Forty-three years after the end of the war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney war, Prime minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong doings of the acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian government and announced Canadian government and announced the awarding of $21,000 for each the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly wronged.individual directly wronged.

Is this an acceptable redress to the Is this an acceptable redress to the issue?issue?

WatchWatch

Watch: David Suzuki- Internment Watch: David Suzuki- Internment Camp (2 min)Camp (2 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMk_RRO5ZUw

Watch: CBC News: Apology to Watch: CBC News: Apology to Japanese Canadians (4 min) Japanese Canadians (4 min)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVZtQULIMQ&feature=related

TOWN HALL MEETINGTOWN HALL MEETING 1. Students will form groups of 5. Each person will then be 1. Students will form groups of 5. Each person will then be

designated a letter (A, B, C, D or E) which represents a specific designated a letter (A, B, C, D or E) which represents a specific “profile”. “profile”.

2. Students will read their designated “profile” and then return to 2. Students will read their designated “profile” and then return to their group. their group.

3. There will be a ‘town hall meeting’ (ie. Each table) in which 3. There will be a ‘town hall meeting’ (ie. Each table) in which students will present their profile and address the question: students will present their profile and address the question:

““Due to the increasing suspicions of the Due to the increasing suspicions of the Japanese Canadians and following Canada’s Japanese Canadians and following Canada’s declaration of war on Japan, what should be declaration of war on Japan, what should be done with the Japanese Canadians living in done with the Japanese Canadians living in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia?” ?”

Take a stand…. Take a stand…. what is more important:what is more important:

National SecurityNational Security Individual Rights Individual Rights

……keeping in mind that people keeping in mind that people make decisions based on make decisions based on what they know at the time!what they know at the time!

ActivityActivity

In pairs, examine “QUESTION 2” on In pairs, examine “QUESTION 2” on the following worksheet: the following worksheet: http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/history/history/debatingissues_ww2.html . With your partner, identify which . With your partner, identify which arguments are for the “Yes” side and arguments are for the “Yes” side and “No” side.“No” side.