Prewar Anti-Japanese Sentiment
In the United States, anti-Japanese sentiments and measures to curb their rights began over one hundred years before the Second World War. As early as the late 19th century, as the Asian immigrant population grew and took over jobs, they were subject to racial prejudice in the United States. Laws were passed that openly discriminated against Japanese immigrants in America.
These publicly growing anti-Asian, specifically anti-Japanese prejudices, resentments, and fears were major factors which led to the removal of constitutional rights of the Japanese American people.
These publicly growing anti-Asian, specifically anti-Japanese prejudices, resentments, and fears were major factors which led to the removal of constitutional rights of the Japanese American people.
1790
The United States' first naturalization law was passed in 1790. "This granted the right of naturalization to any alien who was a "free white person." In 1870, the right of naturalization was extended to "aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent." Asians, such as the Chinese and Japanese, who were neither white nor black, were classified as "aliens ineligible to citizenship." Without the right to naturalize, Japanese immigrants could not become U.S. citizens; without citizenship, they could not vote; without the right to vote, they had very little political influence." www.densho.org
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1882
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) signed into law on May 6, 1882, by President Chester A. Arthur
The Chinese Exclusion Act is enacted in response to economic fears, especially on the West Coast, where native-born Americans attributed unemployment and declining wages to Chinese workers whom they also viewed as racially inferior. The Chinese Exclusion Act, , effectively halted Chinese immigration for ten years and prohibited Chinese from becoming US citizens. Through the Geary Act of 1892, the law was extended for another ten years before becoming permanent in 1902. http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/exclusion.html This act influx of Japanese immigrants into the U.S. From the 1890s, Japanese immigrants are deemed "aliens ineligible to citizenship." |
1905-post WWII
Formed May 14, 1905-post WWII Asiatic Exclusion League (AEL)
Organized anti-Asian movement supported primarily by labor union members along the West Coast opposed Japanese immigration to the United States because they feared for their jobs. "By constantly reinforcing negative stereotypes of Japanese as “coolies” who threatened the American way of life, the league contributed to the passage of anti-Japanese legislation at the entry of the United States into World War II in 1941." www.immigrationinamerica.org |
1907-1908
U.S.-Japan Gentlemen's Agreement restricts Japanese immigration to the U.S. It "represented an effort by President Theodore Roosevelt to calm growing tension between the two countries over the immigration of Japanese workers. A treaty with Japan in 1894 had assured free immigration, but as the number of Japanese workers in California increased, they were met with growing hostility". www.history.com
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1913
First Alien Land Law of 1913 is passed in California, denies aliens, ineligible for citizenship," the right to own, lease, or otherwise enjoy land except to the extent provided by treaty. The U.S. Supreme Court holds these discriminatory laws constitutional in November 1923."
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1930'sMany Issei, who came from farming backgrounds in Japan, brought to America new farming techniques. Their hard work and economic success in farming was a major threat to the other farmers. Across the country Caucasion farmers rallied to find a way to rid themselves of "their Japanese competitors. At a rally [in Glendale, CA]... more than 150 cars paraded through town. One carried a banner that read: WE DON’T NEED ASIATICS
JAP MOVING DAY AUGUST 25TH , WE MEAN IT MOVE OUT BY SATURDAY NOON AUGUST 25TH OR BE MOVED Over the next few weeks nativists and their minions flooded Japanese farms, bombed Japanese homes, pushed pick-ups owned by Japanese farmers into irrigation canals, and fired shots at Japanese farmers who tried to protect their growing crops." Enduring Communities Arthur A. Hansen, 23 Oct. 2009 |