US enters war

Question 1

Restriction of Trade

Answer 1

In 1935, the US congress passed three neutrality acts. These laws banned loans and the sale of arms to nations at war.
● July 1940 the US began limiting what Japan could buy from the U.S.
● In 1941, Japan took complete control of Vietnam (a French colony at the
time)
● As a result the US froze Japanese financial assets in the U.S. cutting off all
oil shipments.

Question 2

The Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941

Answer 2

To help reduce Japanese aggression the U.S stopped trade with Japan. In retaliation Japan bombs Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941
- December 8th, the Congress of the United States declares war on Japan
- December 11th, Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S
The Japanese goal was to destroy the American fleet and capture all the territory in the Pacific before the Americans had the chance to rebuild its navy. and in the short term, it worked.

Question 3

Canada Declares War on Japan

Answer 3

Canada declared war with Japan on December 8, 1941, after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour
Once the bombing on Pearl Harbour happened racism came to a boiling point. British Columbians started to blame all their troubles and problems on the Japanese.
The people of British Columbia wanted Prime Minister Mackenzie King to rid Canada of people of Japanese origin.

Question 4

Canada Declares War on Japan

Answer 4

Many worked in the fishing industry, causing Canadians to express fear that Japanese fishermen were charting the coastline for the Japanese navy.
● 1,200 Japanese fishing boats were confiscated by the Government of Canada.

Question 5

Historical Origins

Answer 5

Many historians believe internment camps were widely accepted because of racist attitudes Canadians held towards Japanese Canadians, and other immigrants from Asia.
● Asiatic Exclusion League: objective “to keep Asian immigrants out of British Columbia.”
● Chinese Immigration Act, 1932: banned Chinese immigrants from entering Canada
● Continuous Journey Law: prohibited immigration of persons who “in the opinion of the Minister of the Interior” did not “come from the country of their birth or citizenship by a continuous journey and or through tickets purchased before leaving their country of their birth or nationality.”
○ Komagata Maru turned around with 376 passengers from India escorted by navy gunship with only 20 passengers admitted to Canada

Question 6

Restriction of Human Rights

Answer 6

1. Denied their basic rights
2. Issued special clothing
3. Stripped of their personal belongings and
   property
4. Relocated into camps.
5. Forced into manual labour
   Japanese schools were closed, Japanese newspapers were shut down and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed.
   These actions were similar to the Nazi impoverishment and relocation of Jews to ghettos prior to WWII.

Question 7

Japanese “Relocation”

Answer 7

Approximately 80% of the Japanese population in British Columbia were Canadian nationals.
● “Military necessity” was used as a justification for their mass removal and incarceration.
● All males of Japanese origin were ordered to move 160 km inland to safeguard the coast from Japanese spies
The forced removal of Japanese Canadians was legal through the use of the War Measures Act
Those who resisted internment were sent to a prisoner of war camp in Ontario with threats of deportation to Japan

Question 8

Seizure of Property

Answer 8

When Japanese Canadians were forced from their homes, the government promised to preserve their property for them.
Canada sold all of their worldly possessions.
In 1943 the Canadian “Custodian of Aliens” liquidated these worldly possessions without the owner’s permission.

Question 9

Internment Camps

Answer 9

40 internment camps held 24,000 people spread across Canada
Camps were divided by gender with small allowances for families
The camps often did not have access to running water or electricity and were extremely overcrowded

Question 10

The Pacific Theatre

Answer 10

Within 6 months of Pearl Harbor, Japan had taken vast territories
After Pearl Harbor, American military leaders focused on halting the Japanese advance and mobilizing the whole nation for war.

Question 11

Battles of The Pacific Theatre

Answer 11

American Forces halted the Japanese advances in naval battles.
Midway (June 1942)
▪ The Japanese hoped to capture Midway Island as a base to attack Pearl Harbor again
▪ The U.S. caught the Japanese by surprise and sank 3 of the 4 aircraft carriers, 332 planes, and 3500 men.

Question 12

The Importance of Midway

Answer 12

The Japanese defeat at Midway was the turning point in the Pacific.
▪ Japanese advances stopped.
▪ U.S. assumes initiative.
▪ Japanese have shortage of able pilots.
Censorship and Propaganda
▪ News of the defeat was kept from the Japanese public.