Human Rights in WartimeHuman Rights in Wartime

Human RightsHuman Rights

A right that is believed to belong justifiably to every person

commonly understood as "inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being”

Human Rights & WartimeHuman Rights & Wartime

Is it ok for the government to restrict Is it ok for the government to restrict human rights during wartime human rights during wartime because it is in the interest of because it is in the interest of national security?national security?

Which should come first, human Which should come first, human rights or national security?rights or national security?

Human Rights & Wartime Human Rights & Wartime SurveySurvey

Internment of Japanese Internment of Japanese CanadiansCanadians

Japanese Aggression…Japanese Aggression… Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with

the invasion of Manchuria and continued in 1937 with the invasion of Manchuria and continued in 1937 with a brutal attack on China.a brutal attack on China.

On February 24On February 24thth, 1933, Japan stuns the world and , 1933, Japan stuns the world and withdraws from the League of Nations.withdraws from the League of Nations.

The Tripartite PactThe Tripartite Pact

On September 27, On September 27, 1940, Japan signed 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact the Tripartite Pact with Germany and with Germany and Italy, thus entering Italy, thus entering the military the military alliance known as alliance known as the "Axis." the "Axis."

Question #1Question #1

How do you feel about this? Should How do you feel about this? Should you be concerned? Should something you be concerned? Should something be done?be done?

Embargo Against JapanEmbargo Against Japan

the United States, the United States, Britain and the Britain and the Netherlands froze all Netherlands froze all Japanese financial Japanese financial assets. The effect was assets. The effect was to prevent Japan from to prevent Japan from purchasing oil, which purchasing oil, which would, in time, cripple would, in time, cripple its army and make its its army and make its navy and air force navy and air force completely useless. completely useless.

Japanese Bomb Pearl Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbour!Harbour!

December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt December 7, 1941, President Roosevelt declares it “The Day of Infamy”.declares it “The Day of Infamy”.

The Battle of HongThe Battle of Hong KongKong

Hong Kong surrendered Hong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day 1941. on Christmas Day 1941.

Of the 1,975 Canadians, Of the 1,975 Canadians, 290 were killed and 493 290 were killed and 493 wounded. A further 260 wounded. A further 260 died in the awful died in the awful conditions of prison conditions of prison camps in Hong Kong camps in Hong Kong and Japan. and Japan.

Question #2Question #2

Has your stance changed? What are Has your stance changed? What are some of the potential implications for some of the potential implications for Canada?Canada?

Anglo-Canadian Anglo-Canadian ReactionsReactions

Resentment against Resentment against Japanese Canadians Japanese Canadians exploded into panic exploded into panic and anger in British and anger in British Columbia. Columbia.

1,200 fishing boats 1,200 fishing boats were seized by the were seized by the Canadian navy in fear Canadian navy in fear of spyingof spying

The war offered a The war offered a convenient excuse for convenient excuse for Canadians to move Canadians to move Japanese Canadians Japanese Canadians into campsinto camps

The Canadian War Measures The Canadian War Measures ActAct

1914 – “gave the government sweeping 1914 – “gave the government sweeping powers to ensure the security, defence, powers to ensure the security, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada.”peace, order, and welfare of Canada.”

Used to imprison Used to imprison CANADIANSCANADIANS of of German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent German, Ukrainian, and Slavic descent in WWI.in WWI.

See p.256-257 in textbook and add info See p.256-257 in textbook and add info to your chart “Comparing Canada’s to your chart “Comparing Canada’s Role in the World Wars”Role in the World Wars”

Japanese Internment in Japanese Internment in CanadaCanada

■ The movement of 23,000 Japanese Canadians during the war was the largest mass exodus in Canadian history.

Internment TimelineInternment Timeline 1941 (December 8):1941 (December 8): 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats 1,200 Japanese Canadian fishing boats

are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools are impounded. Japanese language newspapers and schools close.close.

1942 (January 16):1942 (January 16): Removal begins of Japanese immigrant Removal begins of Japanese immigrant males from coastal areas.males from coastal areas.

1942 (February 24):1942 (February 24): All male Japanese Canadian citizens All male Japanese Canadian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from between the ages of 18 and 45 ordered to be removed from 100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia.100-mile-wide zone along the coast of British Columbia.

1942 (February 26):1942 (February 26): Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians Mass evacuation of Japanese Canadians begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and begins. Some given only 24 hours notice. Cars, cameras and radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew radios confiscated for “protective measures”. Curfew imposed.imposed.

1942 (March 4):1942 (March 4): Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over Japanese Canadians ordered to turn over property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien property and belongings to Custodian of Enemy Alien Property as a “protective measure only”. Property as a “protective measure only”.

1942 (March 25):1942 (March 25): British Columbia Security Commission British Columbia Security Commission initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women initiates scheme of forcing men to road camps and women and children to “ghost town” detention camps.and children to “ghost town” detention camps.

Video – Enemy AlienVideo – Enemy Alien

http://www.nfb.ca/film/enemy_alienhttp://www.nfb.ca/film/enemy_alien

Conditions in the CampsConditions in the Camps Housed in huts with Housed in huts with

two bedrooms and a two bedrooms and a kitchen kitchen

shared by two familiesshared by two families No electricity or No electricity or

running water until running water until 19431943

Camp Conditions cont.Camp Conditions cont. Hundreds of women Hundreds of women

and children were and children were squeezed into livestock squeezed into livestock buildingsbuildings

Slept on beds covered Slept on beds covered in straw for comfortin straw for comfort

Conditions were so poor Conditions were so poor that food packages that food packages were sent from Japan were sent from Japan through the Canadian through the Canadian Red Cross to those Red Cross to those suffering in the campssuffering in the camps

Imagine…Imagine… Imagine being dropped off in an unfamiliar place, Imagine being dropped off in an unfamiliar place,

far from home and everything you know. Some of far from home and everything you know. Some of your family members are sent elsewhere, miles your family members are sent elsewhere, miles away, and you are told you can’t leave to find them. away, and you are told you can’t leave to find them. Your days are now spent in animal stalls, sleeping Your days are now spent in animal stalls, sleeping on a bed of straw, with the unbearable stench of on a bed of straw, with the unbearable stench of animal waste in the air. There are no walls to your animal waste in the air. There are no walls to your new home. No door to shut out the rest of the new home. No door to shut out the rest of the world. Instead, hundreds of other people share your world. Instead, hundreds of other people share your same floor, with only hanging sheets separating same floor, with only hanging sheets separating you. You discover your home, business and most of you. You discover your home, business and most of your possessions have been either sold off without your possessions have been either sold off without your consent or looted. You have nothing to go back your consent or looted. You have nothing to go back to. And the country you love and the government to. And the country you love and the government that was supposed to protect you is responsible.that was supposed to protect you is responsible.

Hiroshima and NagasakiHiroshima and Nagasaki

Following FDR’s death, Following FDR’s death, Harry Truman becomes Harry Truman becomes President of the United President of the United StatesStates

Truman decided to use Truman decided to use the bomb on Japan the bomb on Japan because he believed because he believed that it was the only way that it was the only way to get the Japanese to to get the Japanese to surrender and save surrender and save American livesAmerican lives

On August 6On August 6thth, 1945 a , 1945 a lone B-29 Superfortress lone B-29 Superfortress called the Enola Gay by called the Enola Gay by its crew took off and its crew took off and headed for Hiroshimaheaded for Hiroshima

Fat Man and Little BoyFat Man and Little Boy At 8:15am the atomic At 8:15am the atomic

bomb nicknamed “Little bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Boy” was dropped on HiroshimaHiroshima

Within seconds two Within seconds two thirds of the city was thirds of the city was flattened and thousands flattened and thousands were deadwere dead

On August 11, a bomb On August 11, a bomb called “Fat Man” was called “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki at dropped on Nagasaki at 11:02 am11:02 am

At noon, August 15At noon, August 15thth, , 1945 – Emperor Hirohito 1945 – Emperor Hirohito spoke directly to his spoke directly to his people to tell them people to tell them Japan had surrenderedJapan had surrendered

The War is Over!The War is Over!Question # 3Question # 3

What does this mean for Japanese What does this mean for Japanese Canadians?Canadians?

Outcomes of InternmentOutcomes of Internment

After the war, the federal government After the war, the federal government decided to remove all Japanese Canadians decided to remove all Japanese Canadians from British Colombia.from British Colombia.

The Japanese were forced to choose The Japanese were forced to choose between deportation to war ravaged Japan between deportation to war ravaged Japan or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains.or dispersal East of the Rocky mountains.

Public protest would eventually stop the Public protest would eventually stop the deportations, but not before 4000 deportations, but not before 4000 Japanese left the country.Japanese left the country.

Acknowledging Wartime Acknowledging Wartime WrongsWrongs

43 years after the end of the war, 43 years after the end of the war, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the wrong doings of the Canadian government and announced the awarding of and announced the awarding of $21,000 for each individual directly $21,000 for each individual directly wronged.wronged.

Is this an acceptable redress to the Is this an acceptable redress to the issue?issue?

VideoVideo

http://www.japanesecanadianhistory.net/other_resources.htm#tr