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Executive Order 9066 — Japanese American Internment (1942)

Author/Source: President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Type: Primary source — executive order
Era/Period: USH Unit 4 — WWII
ELA Standards: 9-10.R.9 · 9-10.R.8
USH Standards: US.6_12.4 · US.6_12.3
Copyright: Public domain (government document)

What This Text Is About

Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, just two months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The order authorized the Secretary of War to establish military areas from which any or all persons could be excluded and required certain individuals to be relocated. This executive order targeted Japanese Americans living in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona, forcibly relocating them to internment camps under the guise of national security during World War II. About 120,000 people were affected by this directive, with two-thirds being American citizens. Despite the harsh consequences for these individuals, the order does not explicitly use racial language but rather refers to areas and persons in a manner that was clearly aimed at Japanese Americans.

Read It

Executive Order No. 9066

WHEREAS the successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against espionage and against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense facilities, national defense production, or transportation means within the United States; and

WHEREAS the broad executive power conferred upon the President by the Constitution includes his power to protect the Nation in any event in which he deems such protection essential;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders whom he may from time to time designate in any particular location, to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the said military commanders may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded, and with respect to which, the right of any person to enter, remain in, or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War or the appropriate Military Commander may impose in his discretion.

The Secretary of War is hereby directed to prescribe such regulations governing the conduct of all persons subject to this Order as he deems best for insuring against sabotage and espionage.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this 19th day of February in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-two and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and sixty-sixth.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

Why This Text Matters

Executive Order 9066 represents a dark chapter in American history, revealing how wartime hysteria and racism led to the violation of fundamental civil liberties for Japanese Americans. The document highlights the tension between national security concerns and individual rights during times of war. Understanding this executive order is crucial for students to grasp the broader implications of government actions during World War II and their impact on civil liberties and American society.

The internment affected 120,000 people and led to significant social, economic, and emotional hardships for Japanese Americans. It also set a precedent that later influenced other controversial decisions regarding national security measures. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 in Korematsu v. United States (1944), which further complicated its legacy.

ELA Standards Connection

Standard Connection
9-10.R.9 Analyzing the rhetoric and argumentation used to justify the forced relocation of Japanese Americans, focusing on how the executive order frames national security as paramount over individual rights.
9-10.R.8 Examining the structural elements of the executive order that obscure its true purpose and impact through formal language and vague terminology.
9-10.W.4 Writing an argumentative essay about whether similar measures could be justified in modern times, using specific passages from Executive Order 9066 to support claims.

Social Studies Connection

This document is critical for understanding US history standards regarding the impact of World War II on American society (US.6_12.4) and civil liberties during wartime (US.6_12.3). It connects directly to events like Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) and the subsequent internment policies that followed in early 1942.

Key Vocabulary

  • Executive Order: A directive issued by the President of the United States with the force of law.
  • Espionage: The act of spying or obtaining secret information for a foreign power.
  • Sabotage: Destruction or disruption of property intended to impede an organization's activities, especially during wartime.
  • Military Commander: An officer in charge of military operations and personnel within a specific area or region.
  • Civil Liberties: Fundamental rights protected by law from governmental infringement.

Studio Ideas

  1. Write an argumentative essay exploring whether the actions justified under Executive Order 9066 could be ethically supported during wartime, using specific passages to support claims.
  2. Compare and contrast Executive Order 9066 with other government policies that restricted civil liberties in response to national security concerns (e.g., Patriot Act).
  3. Write an essay analyzing the impact of internment on Japanese American communities from a contemporary perspective.

Pairs With

Why This Is Relevant Today?

Executive Order 9066 remains relevant today as it raises questions about balancing national security with civil liberties. Recent debates over surveillance, immigration policies targeting specific ethnic groups, and responses to terrorism echo the tensions seen in 1942. The order's legacy continues to influence contemporary discussions on civil rights protections and government authority during crises.

Primary Source Collection · SDA Commons Reading Library · South High School