Websites I used:
1. Oregon Responds to World War II
This website is credible because it has references, the hyperlinks work and there's a way to contact the author.
2. American History
This is credible because it's .edu, the hyperlinks work, and also references for the author.
3. Griswold School
This website is a .org website, the hyperlinks work, and has references.
These camps were established because Roosevelt’s executive order was fueled by anti-Japanese sentiment among farmers who competed against Japanese labor, politicians who sided with the antis constituencies, and the general public who were heightened by the Pearl Harbor attack. More than two-thirds of the Japanese who were put in camps in 1942 were U.S. citizens..
What I found:
In website #1, it focuses on behind the scene of the camps. When the Japanese had arrived at the camp, they are set on “the new residents set about improving their surroundings” (Website #1). They are supplied with blankets, and a small heating stove for each apartment. This infers that the government did not give them a lot to live in. The Japanese improvised the resident by “making shelves and furniture from whatever scraps they can find” (Website #1). This shows that they had to do what they had to do with the little things they can find. They also had to salvage wood from the camp’s lumber pile in order to build their furniture. The Japanese also had planted that the climate permits. They planted “trees, hedges, and flower beds to soften the environment” (Website #1). This shows that the weather was very hot and they had to plant in order to get shade. The plants ended up becoming a beautiful landscaped garden.
In website #2 focuses on the daily life of the people in the camps. Life was challenging for Japanese Americans living inside the internment camps. In the article, it mentioned that “the children and adults had to stand in line for many things, including eating and going to the bathroom” (Website #2). This shows that the camp is over-crowded and they had to deal with limited things they have. In the camps, the Japanese had entertained themselves by playing baseball and other sports. These sports were important to them and it’s what makes them happy. This shows that there was actually activities to do in the camp besides lying around. Also in the article, the Japanese had to live in a camp where there is a barbed wire fence in front of it. They were excluded from any outside contact and can’t do anything but just to stay where they’re at. "In 1988, many years after WWII, a Federal Commission's findings convinced Congress that the internment camps were wrong, and the United States Government should accept responsibility" (Website #2). This shows that it took many years for the camps to disappear. Soon the government apologized, and passed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. "The government also promised to repay Japanese Americans for the losses they suffered. Today, the Japanese American community is still working to make sure that all those who were forced to leave their homes are compensated" (Website #2). This shows that government finally realized that the camps were wrong and started to treat the Japanese-Americans properly by repaying the losses they suffered. Even today they are working to make sure that this wouldn't happen again.
"I spent my boyhood behind the barbed wire fences of American internment camps and that part of my life is something that I wanted to share with more people." -George Takei
In website #3 includes additional information about the living conditions. It says that "each camp had their own administration building, school, hospital, store, and post office. Most of the adults found work to do. Some worked inside the camp preparing and growing food, teaching, or being nurses. Others were allowed to temporarily work outside of the camps" (Website #3). This shows that people still found work to do and children are still going to school. This also shows that they are able to ordinary stuff like they did outside of the camp; this kept them busy. The article stated that, “mess halls and food courts held about 200-300 people” (Website #3). This infers that the camps are overpopulated. Since the population is big, it created food shortages, which led people growing crops and livestock. The Japanese also had to live in animal stalls since there was no more room for them. These rooms consisted mostly hay, they used it as bed. "Twice a day all the internees were counted and sometimes searches were done to make sure they didn't have things like cameras and radios" (Website #3). This shows that living in the camp is strict and that the Japanese had to have their place searched to make sure they didn't have electronics. The guards were guarded by eight towers with machine guns and if one were caught, they'll be killed. "The temperatures were either really hot summers or really cold winters" (Website #3). This shows that the Japanese had to live through whatever weather condition it was in. Keep in mind that they didn't have much clothing items or blankets. For the heat, they did not have a fan or ice to keep them cool.