The American Vision: Modern Times © 2008

Chapter 14: America and World War II

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have read about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this activity students will study an exhibit of historical materials regarding one of the relocation centers—Puyallup Assembly Center, also known as "Camp Harmony."

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the Camp Harmony Web site to learn about the experiences of Japanese Americans who were sent to live in relocation centers and internment camps during World War II. Students will read newspaper articles, journal entries, and letters that describe the living conditions in Camp Harmony, a relocation center. Photographs of relocation efforts and of Camp Harmony enhance students' understanding of the ordeal. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by writing a haiku that describes Japanese American internment during World War II.

1. Students will use materials from the Camp Harmony exhibit to analyze the internment of Japanese Americans during World
   War II.
   
2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to write a haiku that describes the experiences of Japanese Americans during the internment.

1. The Munson report described the Nisei as being "very American" and dismissed rumors that Japanese Americans were disloyal to the United States. However, the report had no effect on the rising tide of hostilities against Japanese Americans.
   
2. Japanese Americans were given six days to pack everything that they would carry to the center and sell, rent, or store everything else. These neighbors, businesspeople, and farmers left Bainbridge Island under armed guard. Newspapers reported that the Japanese Americans departed compliantly as their Caucasian friends and classmates wept and said good-bye.
   
3. Each building usually had six apartments, and each apartment was about 20 feet square. Each family occupied one apartment. The partition dividing the apartments did not rise to the top of the roof, and so the living quarters were noisy and lacked privacy. The floors were laid directly onto the ground, and in some apartments weeds grew up through the floorboards. Army cots were provided for each family member, but not everyone had mattresses. There was no running water within the apartments, and the community bathrooms were inadequate and unsanitary. The food at the center was mostly American, which was very difficult for those used to a Japanese diet.
   
4. Armed guards and barbed wire restricted Japanese Americans' movements within the camps. Japanese Americans were also forced to obey camp schedules with curfews, set meal times, and lights out. They had no rights to assemble, unless by special permission, and the Shinto religion was forbidden. Japanese language materials were confiscated, and police could search any apartment at any time without warrant.
   
5. Students' poems will vary.