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.
With Japan becoming increasingly aggressive in the Pacific such as occupying Indonesia, parts of China, the Philippines, Malaya, Burma, and Singapore, anti- Japanese sentiments are increasing around the world
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, thus entering Italy, thus entering the military the military alliance known as alliance known as the "Axis." the "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. The effect was assets. The effect was to prevent Japan from to prevent Japan from purchasing oil, which purchasing oil, which would, in time, cripple would, in time, cripple its army and make its its army and make its navy and air force navy and air force completely useless. completely useless.
Canadian SentimentCanadian Sentiment……
At the outbreak of the World War II in 1939, At the outbreak of the World War II in 1939, the population of British Columbia included the population of British Columbia included around 21,000 Canadians of Japanese origin, around 21,000 Canadians of Japanese origin, 75% of whom had residence rights.75% of whom had residence rights.
Common belief held was that the Japanese Common belief held was that the Japanese are unable to assimilate into Canadian are unable to assimilate into Canadian society as easily as those of European society as easily as those of European heritage.heritage.
Prime Minister Mackenzie King himself Prime Minister Mackenzie King himself expressed a belief in “the extreme difficulty expressed a belief in “the extreme difficulty of assimilating Japanese persons in Canada”of assimilating 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. A further 260 wounded. A further 260 died in the awful died in the awful conditions of prison conditions of prison camps in Hong Kong camps in Hong Kong and Japan. and Japan.
Do we need proof?Do we need proof? Japanese submarines are known to have Japanese submarines are known to have
been operating off the coast of British been operating off the coast of British ColumbiaColumbia
Although RCMP and Canadian military Although RCMP and Canadian military evaluations suggested no imminent evaluations suggested no imminent threat by Japanese Canadians, this threat by Japanese Canadians, this assessment is not universally accepted, assessment is not universally accepted, as there exists no guarantee of the as there exists no guarantee of the loyalty, or passivity of Japanese-loyalty, or passivity of Japanese-Canadians. Canadians.
What should be done?What should be done?
Resentment against Resentment against Japanese Canadians Japanese Canadians exploded into panic exploded into panic and anger in British and anger in British Columbia. Columbia.
1,200 fishing boats 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the were seized by the Canadian navy in Canadian navy in fear of spyingfear of spying
The war offered a The war offered a convenient excuse convenient excuse for Canadians to for Canadians to address the address the Japanese Canadian Japanese Canadian question.question.
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?” ?”
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
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!
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 familiesshared by two families 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
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.
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
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?
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.
