Internment and the Constitution Flashcards

Questions and Answers

During World War II, how did the policy of internment affect people of Japanese descent in the United States?

They were forced to work for the US government.

They were forced to relocate to Japan.

They were forced to join the military and fight Japan.

They were forced to relocate to assembly centers. (correct)

Which is one advantage of using Navajo as a military code language?

Since it was simple, Americans could learn it easily.

Since few people understood it, it was a difficult code to break. (correct)

Since it was widely known, allied forces could learn it easily.

Since the Navajo spoke it, other American Indians would understand it.

What pivotal event led the United States to enter World War II?

Japan's takeover of Southeast Asia

Japan's attack on Midway Island

Japan's takeover of China

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor (correct)

How did President Truman's Executive Order 9981 show progress toward racial equality?

The order ended segregation in the military. Signup and view all the answers

In the Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States, the court decided that the Fourteenth Amendment:

could be waived in a time of emergency such as war. Signup and view all the answers

In Korematsu v. US (1944), what did the Supreme Court rule regarding the internment of Japanese Americans?

Constitutional Signup and view all the answers

The military code-talking system refers to:

secret languages used for communication. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes what World War II internees faced when they returned home?

property damage and discrimination Signup and view all the answers

Fred Korematsu argued that internment was unconstitutional mainly because internees:

did not receive due process. Signup and view all the answers

Why were Japanese Americans living on the West Coast interned after the Pearl Harbor attack?

Many people feared the presence of Japanese spies after Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Internment and Its Impacts

Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated to assembly centers during World War II.
Fear of espionage following the Pearl Harbor attack drove the internment of Japanese Americans on the West Coast.

Military Code and Navajo Contribution

The use of Navajo as a military code language was advantageous because it was difficult to understand and break, ensuring effective communication.
Code talkers played a crucial role in secure communications during the war.

Entry into World War II

The United States entered World War II following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, a pivotal moment that shifted public and government sentiment towards intervention.

Truman's Executive Order 9981

President Truman's Executive Order 9981 marked progress toward racial equality by ending segregation in the military forces.

Korematsu v. United States

The Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections could be waived during times of national emergency, such as war.
The Court upheld the constitutionality of Japanese Americans' internment based on perceived threats during wartime.

Experiences of Interned Japanese Americans

Upon returning home, WWII internees faced significant property damage and discrimination, challenging their reintegration into society.
Apologies or financial reparations from the government were not immediately offered.

Due Process Concerns

Fred Korematsu's argument against internment centered on the lack of due process for internees, contending they were US citizens and posed no threat to national security.

Nature of Military Code-Talking

Military code-talking involved the use of secret languages facilitating secure and efficient communication amongst troops during the war.

Description

This quiz focuses on the impact of internment on Japanese Americans during World War II and explores constitutional issues related to those policies. Test your knowledge on historical events and their implications on civil rights through flashcards.