Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution: Reflections"

Japanese American Exclusion Orders During World War II

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:35:42 GMT

This lesson will help students identify with the experiences of camp internees during World War II. Students will be divided into four-member "family" groups that are to be relocated to an internment camp. They will then read two sections of the online exhibition entitled A More Perfect Union and, based on what they have read, make decisions about what they will take with them. After discussing their decisions, students will visit the "Reflections" section of A More Perfect Union and write a response to at least one of the topics.

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.

Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:08:53 GMT

The Densho Project is a non-profit educational organization that preserves historical first-person accounts, photographs and documents in a digital archive. Digitally videotaped oral history interviews include personal experiences of immigration, family life, mass incarceration of Japanese Americans by their government during World War II, efforts to obtain redress for the denial of civil rights, and many other topics. This resource links past and present by providing primary and secondary source material on Japanese American experiences, as part of American history. The Densho Project works to educate future generations, collaborating with teachers and students in communities nationwide, preserving history, and inspiring people to act with respect, compassion and fairness.