Kara Colwell
November 31, 2014
HIS/125
Instructor: Leslie Ruff
The Beginning of
World War II
The second world war was the most widespread and deadliest war in
History. It involved over
30 countries, and ended in more than 50 million armed forces and civilians death. This all began with
Hitler’s capture of Poland in 1939, and prolonged for six years until both
Germany (Nazi’s) and
Japan were defeated in
1945.
Japanese
Americans
Life was challenging for the
Japanese Americans when they were forced into Internment
Camps. Imagine having to leave your home, friends, and freedom, to live in a squared area, lined with Barbed Wire fencing.
• After Pearl Harbor, the Military forces sent any Japanese into internment camps all across the
US. This was because we were afraid that we were being spied on by the Japanese.
• Citizens were given 48 hours to evacuate, and were allowed to take only a few possessions.
In the Internment Camps…
• Each person had to stand in line for everything. This included eating, going to the bathroom, and washing.
• Over 120,000 Japanese communities were relocated
• They were only fed 3 times a day, only eating potatoes and bread, anyone over the age of
5 couldn’t receive milk, and there was no meat allowed until the 12th day.
Ending actions
By 1988, many years after WWII, the
Federal commissions finally convinced congress that these internment camps were very wrong. They also requested that the US Government should accept responsibility for these actions. The government finally agreed to apologize to the Japanese Americans, and then passed a Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This acknowledged that the injustice was done, and also promised to repay the
Japanese Americans for all the losses they suffered. Now, almost 27 years later, the
Japanese community is still fighting to make sure that all the people who were forced to leave their homes were compensated. I believe that they should pay back what they owe them due to many life’s lost, irreplaceable memories gone, and no reasons for it, other then being accused of being a spy.
Navajo Indians o The military authorities chose
Navajo as a code language because it was almost impossible for a non-Navajo to learn, write, or read this form. The Navajo code was also the only code the
Japanese was never able to break. o The code talkers were forbidden from telling anyone about anything they were doing, including other marines, families, or friends. This was strict until it was declassified in 1968. o There were 200 Navajos recruited, and the first 29 attended boot camp in 1942.
The life of a code talker o Transmitted and received messages about the troops movements, enemy locations, food, equipment, and medical supplies. o Moved around with the war to placed like
Guadalcanal, Guam, Peleliu, and Bougainville.
The Navajo code helped change their status. They were doing things that were forbidden, but was one of the most important secrets of WWII. Nobody other than the Navajo Coders know how to speak this language, and it showed trust in them to do their job, protect each other, and be honest to any information they received. This gave encouragement that they
Navajo could still live true to their culture, but still work among the White man.
Women of WWII
Once World War II started, the women began to play an important role at home and in uniform.
Their husbands, children, and fathers were sent off to war, leaving the Women to take over while they were gone. The US quickly committed themselves to war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and that included utilizing all of their assets- Including women. o When the war began, quick marriages were becoming normal due to sweethearts getting married before their men went over seas.
Jobs and duties of