Question1
After the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor, the then American president, Theodore D. Roosevelt, passed an executive order, 9066, that gave local military leaders the authority to form special designated militarized areas within civilian populations. This order mainly affected the pacific coast of the United States because the government feared there would be a full-scale attack on American soil, especially after the initial Pearl Harbor attack (Bean 19). In the course of the two world wars, the American government always feared revolt from internal groups. In fact, the composition of the general American public was one of the main reasons why the country delayed entry into both wars. For example, the First World War presented a problem because there America had citizens with both British and German roots. Therefore, entry into the war was avoided on the basis that it had the potential to cause internal strife (Bean 25).
Therefore, the entry of America into the two wars was as a response to unavoidable provocation. In the first war, the discovery of a letter to Mexico by German leaders implied that Germans were under the impression that Americans supported the allies and were ready to attack the country. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor was a bigger provocation. The initial impression was that the executive order sought to create military camps. However, it soon transpired that people with Japanese ancestry were targeted more than the rest of the population. The statistical bureau, the body that collects demographic information, provided information about the whereabouts of Japanese populations and therefore led to their specific targeting by the military. This bureau was to later deny providing such information until its involvement was proven in 2007. In addition, it was also proven that the Japanese were treated unfairly in the war and the civil liberties act compensated the survivors (Bean 33).
Question 2
Non-American citizens living or working in the country are underrepresented and often mistreated. They are subjected to unfavorable laws that always place them at a disadvantage. For example, for fear of a French invasion, President Adams and his government passed the Alien Act. The act gave the government the power to expel all foreigners if they were suspected of collusion with other foreign powers (Connell 22). Therefore, all groups of people who did not have American citizenship were forced to live in fear of intimidation. Although this law was later suspended and such allegations now require proof before expulsion, the immigration laws make it hard for non-Americans to earn a living. For example, such laws have inspired the targeting of special groups like the Japanese, hence they fell victim to discrimination during and after the Second World War. It is worth noting that the vast majority of people in the country are descended from immigrants. Therefore, it would be unfair to target other social groups because they immigrated in later times.
The Japanese have a distinct appearance as part of the ancestral heritage. Therefore, it is relatively easy to target them for discrimination. The anti-Japanese sentiment inspired by World War Two was particularly a major cause of their persecution and discrimination (Zurlo 41). Later, the government admitted that their mistreatment in the war was a result of war hysteria, prejudice of race and failure of political leadership (Zurlo 56). This amounted to government-sanctioned discrimination against the group.
Question 3
Legislation has a role to play in protecting particular social groups. The Civil Liberties Act was passed in 1988 and compensated Americans of Japanese ancestry who were persecuted during the war. This act was passed after acknowledgement that there was unfair treatment in the internment of more than 120,000 people, more than 60% of them being American citizens. The compensation and apology after the act finally was the turning point and thereafter paved the way for the adoption of the common position that the Japanese are equal citizens and they may not be targeted in the future for any reason, political instigated or otherwise.
The Alien Enemies Act gave the government authority to detain all male citizens of a country if the United States was at war with the said country. The Alien Friends Act gave the president authority to deport any person suspected of collaborating with an enemy of the United States (Connell 61). In addition, the act sought to increase the period before an Alien qualified for citizenship by naturalization. These acts clearly segregated people of alien ancestry. For example, the detention and deportation of aliens did not require court cases. It merely required one to be a suspect. Though these laws were to be reversed in later years, there was an element of their influence in the detention of Japanese. Therefore, they increased the chances of these groups to be targeted discriminately.
Question 4
There are more than 1.3million Japanese living in America, according to the 2010 census. This makes them the sixth largest ethnic group of in the country and evidences an increase in their population from previous census (Connell 78). Their distribution suggests that they prefer to live in particular places. They mostly live in Hawaii and the western coast of America, especially in California. There is no significant deviation in other population data. They have a slightly higher life expectancy than the average American and mostly fall within the average income bracket. Intermarriage with other groups was limited before the 1960’s. The Japanese preferred to marry their own. In fact, there are cases where the Japanese people invited spouses from Japan to get married. Although this practice somewhat eased after the passage of the Civil Liberties Act, these groups generally tend not to trust other Americans. It has been claimed that this is a result their treatment in the war; it led to the feeling that they were not considered part of the American population and therefore contributed to their preference to stick together. The low rate of intermarriage implies that this group is still relatively distinct.
Question 5
The building theory views the society as a functional body made up of individual parts, each functioning for the greater good of the society. The theory proposes that the evolution of the society is similar to evolution of organisms and all parts have a role to play (Connell 36). For example, the differences in norms, cultures, traditions and customs make the society diverse in a positive way. Contemporary times are characterized by Cultural Revolution that incorporates the best elements of all cultures to create the most aesthetically pleasing culture that facilitates human development and fulfillment of potential.
The fundamental principles of this theory propose that all members of the society should work together in harmony for the betterment of the human race. Therefore, this approach is against certain set of rules that divide the society on any basis. This theory would condemn the segregation that the Japanese were exposed to during the Second World War because they are a part of the American society and have a role to play in its development. Making them feel like unwanted outsiders is bad for the society. Likewise, the role of social groups in ethnic diversity implies that oppression of one group is bound to affect all the other populations in a negative manner. In addition, the theory entails holistic revolution for the betterment of all members of the society. The tendencies of sections of the population to keep to themselves are counterproductive. There are situations that imply specific segments feel left out. However, if they separate from the rest of the society, then they limit the ability of the entire society to grow and function as a whole. Presently, laws minimize victimization and segregation of any social group. Therefore, members of these groups must make efforts to integrate for the greater good of the American society.
Works Cited
Bean, Jonathan, J. Race and Liberty in America: The Essential Reader. Lexington: University Press, 2009. Print.
Connell, Thomas. America's Japanese Hostages: The World War II Plan for a Japanese Free Latin America. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2011. Print.
Zurlo, Tony. The Japanese Americans. San Diego: Lucent Books/Thomson Gale, 2003. Print.
