Comparison of Native Americans with Japanese Americans
On August 1, 1758, the first North American Indian reservation was established by the New Jersey Colonial Assembly. On May twenty-eighth, 1830, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which lead to the relocation of every tribe east of The Mississippi River. On March 21, 1942, the first Japanese internment camp opened in Manzanar California. On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which led to the internment of all Japanese-American citizens. The Japanese internment of citizens in the 1940's and the relocation of Indian's in the 1830's shared many similarities. Three of the biggest similarities are their mistreatment, forced removal, and the distrust of the race. The following paragraphs will explain and compare the events that happened and the actions each group took.
The Japanese and the Indians were both terribly mistreated by our government. Wether it was their resources, abuse, education, or the things stolen from them, there was no way any of it was justified for either of them. To start, education is very weak on the Indian reservations. In Sherman Alexie's novel Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian, there is clear evidence of the poor education on the reservation, which can be seen here: "Yep, so that means I was staring at a geometry book at least thirty years older than I was." (Alexie.31) This quote is proof that on the reservation schools, they have out dated learning resources. The same story translates to the internment camps. The schools were of low quality because the Japanese weren't seen as important to the government. Another similarity within their mistreatment is that they both had something of great value stolen from them. For the Indians, they had their land taken. For the Japanese, they had their homes and businesses taken. Life is much different when you deprive someone of what they call home. The overall mistreatment and lack of resources dedicated toward each group is obvious evidence that the events that took place are extremely similar.
Another major similarity is that they both had something of great value stolen from them. For the Indians, they had their land taken. For the Japanese, they had their homes and businesses taken. Everything was left behind. Life is much different when you deprive someone of what they call home. They also both reacted similarly. While some Indians did rebel, many tribes negotiated and went in peace. On the other hand, Japanese citizens mostly went in peace and order. Their forced removal was both unfortunate and unfair.
Lastly, there is a similarity to the purpose of each relocation. The american government distrusted both Japanese-Americans and Indians, which caused both removals. After the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7th, 1941, The Americans had blamed the attack on all of the Japanese people. With this package of blame came immediate distrust of all the Japanese. It was very similar for Indians back in the 1800's. Small groups had raided white settlements, but all Indians were labelled as violent and dishonest. Soon the American people had hopes of kicking them out for their own safety, while it wasn't usually in danger. All together, both groups were labelled as something that they weren't because of the government's and people's distrust.
The Japanese and the Indians were both terribly mistreated by our government. Wether it was their resources, abuse, education, or the things stolen from them, there was no way any of it was justified for either of them. To start, education is very weak on the Indian reservations. In Sherman Alexie's novel Absolutely True Diaries of a Part-Time Indian, there is clear evidence of the poor education on the reservation, which can be seen here: "Yep, so that means I was staring at a geometry book at least thirty years older than I was." (Alexie.31) This quote is proof that on the reservation schools, they have out dated learning resources. The same story translates to the internment camps. The schools were of low quality because the Japanese weren't seen as important to the government. Another similarity within their mistreatment is that they both had something of great value stolen from them. For the Indians, they had their land taken. For the Japanese, they had their homes and businesses taken. Life is much different when you deprive someone of what they call home. The overall mistreatment and lack of resources dedicated toward each group is obvious evidence that the events that took place are extremely similar.
Another major similarity is that they both had something of great value stolen from them. For the Indians, they had their land taken. For the Japanese, they had their homes and businesses taken. Everything was left behind. Life is much different when you deprive someone of what they call home. They also both reacted similarly. While some Indians did rebel, many tribes negotiated and went in peace. On the other hand, Japanese citizens mostly went in peace and order. Their forced removal was both unfortunate and unfair.
Lastly, there is a similarity to the purpose of each relocation. The american government distrusted both Japanese-Americans and Indians, which caused both removals. After the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7th, 1941, The Americans had blamed the attack on all of the Japanese people. With this package of blame came immediate distrust of all the Japanese. It was very similar for Indians back in the 1800's. Small groups had raided white settlements, but all Indians were labelled as violent and dishonest. Soon the American people had hopes of kicking them out for their own safety, while it wasn't usually in danger. All together, both groups were labelled as something that they weren't because of the government's and people's distrust.