Wartime InternmentWithin two months of the Attack on Pearl Harbor President Roosevelt authorized the executive order permitting the forced relocation of people of Japanese ancestry. This was done for fear of internal sabotage and uprisings made by any possible enemy sympathizers. Another significant factor in the public support for the decision was American racial distrust of the Japanese people.
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In early 1942 all American residents of Japanese descent were sent, generally under armed escort, (a protective measure for the internees), to various camps throughout the western United States. Basic necessities were provided, but of very low quality due to the diversion of funds to mobilization and the war effort. Bathrooms consisted of eight unpartitioned toilets- particularly humiliating to traditional Japanese-, housing was kept to a bare minimum of military cots and storage, and food was usually of low quality. Despite these conditions, there were very few uprisings within the camps, and steadily increasing awareness of, (and thereafter reaction to), the condition of the internees led to a steady increase in quality and development. Over the war years the Camps were changed gradually from barren desert camps to lush, gardened, and Japanese-inspired buildings. The internees were permitted to farm within the reservation and model their homes as more supplies became available.
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The children growing up in the camps were often excited by the new situation, with no schooling available for the first few months and the opportunity to speak and live with other Japanese children. Eventually the haphazard eating situations, comparatively cramped living conditions, and outside influence from well-meaning entertainers, missionaries, and volunteers led to a notable deterioration of Traditional values. As a result of these changes the Nissei grew to be very American in behavior as the majority of Americans seemed to forget about them.