Japanese Internment in Colorado

Democratic Principles in Conflict

Background Knowledge

Executive Order 9066 was signed in 1942 by United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt and authorized the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and Japanese immigrants.

Many of the democratic principles can be found in the story of Amache—equality, liberty/rights, justice, property, diversity. At the time, some U.S. leaders felt these principles were in conflict with the principle of security and clearly placed a greater emphasis on security.

Watch this video about the propaganda the United States government used to justify the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Notice where the following democratic principles were in conflict.

Security / Liberty & Rights

Security / Property

Security / Diversity

Security / Justice

Rule of Law / Equality

Rule of Law / Liberty & Rights

United States Government Japanese Relocation Propaganda