Figure 1.--. |
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Japanse immigration until after World War II was confined primarily to Hawaii and California. We do not yet have details about Japanese immigration. Japan was a heavily populated poor country in the 19th century. The United States in the 1850s forced Japan to open its econmy to foreign trade. We assume that this was whem immigration began. As Gold was divered in California this probably stimmulated immigration. The Japanese came to Hawaii as farm labor. As with Chinese immigrants, laws resticted Japanese economic activity in California. These were state, not Federal laws. Treatment of Japanese immigrants became an issue between the United States and Japan. Federal laws passed in the 1920s did control actual immigration. The laws limited overall immigration and heavily favored northern Europeans. Many Japanese turned to small-scale farming because many other job oppirtunities were closed to them. We note Japanese children in rural California schools during the 1920s. We note family portraits showing the same process. Many Japanese by the 1930s had achieved some success. These families lost most of their property and possessions when they were interned during World War II. After the War many job opportunities formerly denined Japanese Americans opened up.
Japan was a heavily populated poor country in the 19th century. The United States in the 1850s forced Japan to open its econmy to foreign trade. We assume that this was whem immigration began.
Gold was discovered in California (1848). This sparked immigration from all over the world. This included the Chinese. Immigration from Japan was more limited and did not begin until after Commodore Perry and the Black ships opened Japan (1854).
Immigration in the early and mid-19th century was virtually unrestricted. Basically you just walked off the boat zand looked for a job. Japanse immigration until after World War II was confined primarily to Hawaii and California. The Japanese came to Hawaii as farm labor. Interestingly before the Civil War and the Transcontinental Railway, it was easier for Chinese and Japanese to get to Califirnia than it was for Americans.
America like Europe was a deeply racist country in the 19th century. Americans had no experience with Oriental people until encountering Chinese and Japanese in California. Competition first for gold claims and then jobs and land creating friction. The racial and cultural differences fuled racist tension. Journalist began describing the "yellow peril" as part of anti-Asian campaign.
Much of this was aimed at the Chinese who were the first immigrants and immigrated in larger numbers. Few Americans at the time made destinctions between Orientals and thus the Japanese in the eyes of most Americans were just the same as the Chinese.
As with Chinese immigrants, laws resticted Japanese economic activity. These were state laws and municiple codes, primarily California laws where most Chinese and Japanese lived. Most of these laws were passed in the early 20th century.
The laws addressed a wide range of issues. They restricted the rights of Chinese and Japanese to become citizens and own land. They also prohibited oriental people from marrying white people. Many states had similar laws, but they were primarily aimed at black people.
Other local regulations as well a individual prejudice restricted where Chinese and Japanese people could buy homes and restricted hiring in certain industries. and in 1924, immigration from Japan was halted altogether.
Treatment of Japanese immigrants became an issue between the United States and Japan.
Federal laws passed in the 1920s did control actual immigration. The laws limited overall immigration and heavily favored northern Europeans.
Many Japanese at first worked as itinerant farm laborers, in railroad construction, and as domestic servants. Hard working and frugal, many gradually began small-scale farming and retailing. Many other job opportunities such as factory work were closed to them, in part because labor unions would not allow them to join.
Many Japanese by the 1930s had achieved some success.
We note family portraits showing Japanese families were succeeding and becoming Americanized.
Most Japanese Americams lived in Hawaii or California. We note Japanese children in rural California schools during the 1920s. There were segregated schools, but I believe this was done at school district not state level. Racist ideas were prevalent in California, but because of the number of different minorities (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Orientals), it was not economically feasible to set up a state-wide system of segregated schools. We also note Japanese Americans in Colorado schools.
Japanese-American families lost most of their property and possessions when they were interned during World War II. Japanese American children were severly affected by the war. Those living in Pacific coast states were move into concentragtion camps. Although not separated from their patents, Japanese Americans in Pacific coast states were interned in concentration or relocation camps as they were called. Italian and German families were also interned, but only aliens or those whose parents have been involved or suspected of involvement in subversive activites. The Japanese were treated differently in part because of Pearl Harbor, but racial factors were a signoificant factor. President Roosevelt in February 1942 signed the order "evacuating" Japanese, most of whom were Japanese citizens, from the West Coast. Like the Germans, American authorities developed euphenisms for what was done to the Japanese. The order only affected the West Coast, not the Japanese on Hawaii. About 127,000 Japanese Americans were interned. It was one of the most grevious violations of the civil rights of American citizens in United States history. While the internment of Japanese Americans was a terrible injustice, depriving them of their property in many instances and their freedom for several years, the camps were quite different than the the NAZI and Japanese concentration camps. The internees were given adequate food and the children attended local schools. Japanese Americans formed Boy Scout troops such as at the Gila River Relocation Center, Arizona, during 1943.
After the War many job opportunities formerly denined Japanese Americans opened up.
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