Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Japanese American Exclusion Orders During World War II"

World War II

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:24:47 GMT

Students will learn how Americans joined the Allies to defeat Axis militarism and nationalist expansion. Sixteen million Americans donned uniforms in this section of the online exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. The millions more who stayed home comprised a vast civilian army, mobilized by the government to support the war effort. The world-wide conflict that led to the emergence of the United States as an economic and military superpower is divided into sections that allow students to focus either on a specific aspect of the war, or the conflict as a whole. The sections included are titled: Axis Aggression, America Enters the War, Mobilizing for War, "You're in the Army Now", Battle of the Atlantic, The Mediterranean Theater, Storming Fortress Europe, The Pacific Theater; So Others Might Fight; Morale Boosters and Victory and Peace. A non-flash version of the site is available: World War II.

Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution Homepage

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:52:26 GMT

In this online exhibition, students will explore the experiences of Japanese Americans who were placed in internment camps during World War II, a period of history when racial prejudice and fear upset the delicate balance between the rights of citizens and the power of the state. The story is told through interactive galleries that combine photographs, objects, oral histories, and first-person accounts. Students will be able to share their responses to what they have learned on a comment board that is included in the exhibition as well as search more than 800 artifacts from the Smithsonian Collection. Also included are links to related activities, Web sites, a bibliography and more resources about this topic. A non-flash version of the site is available at http://americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/non-flash/overview.html.

Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution: Removal

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:40:12 GMT

Students will learn how the attack on Pearl Harbor led to Executive Order 9066, which was the first step in a program that uprooted Japanese Americans from their West Coast communities and placed them under armed guard for up to four years. This section of A More Perfect Union, an online exhibition, uses artifacts from the Museum's collections, primary source documents, photographs and oral histories to discuss the early stages of this traumatic period, from the initial reactions and policies brought about by the attack on Pearl Harbor to the temporary assembly centers that were the first stop for Japanese American internees. Oral history transcripts are available in each of the subsections of this website.

Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution: Internment

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:40:18 GMT

Students will learn about everyday life in the Japanese American internment camps during World War II. Living in geographically isolated camps under harsh conditions and laboring for unfair wages, internees recreated a community structure that enabled them to live as normal a life as possible as well as thrive culturally. This section of A More Perfect Union, an online exhibition, uses of artifacts from the Museum's collections, fine art, primary source documents, photographs and oral histories students will get sense of the daily life of internees as well as gaining an appreciation of the unique art and culture that emerged from the rigors of life in the camps. Oral history transcripts are available in the subsections Permanent Camps, Conditions, and Work.