Question

During the world war two the united states government interned Japanese Americans in camps, citing security concerns. This was a curtailment of American citizens' individual rights. Do you think such actions are ever justified by a democratic government? Why or why not?

Answer 1

I do not think actions like this can be justified. The internment of Japanese-American citizens was one of the biggest mistakes made by the federal government in the 20th century.

Executive Order 9066 called for the internment of Japanese-American citizens shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese empire. Even though this attack came from Japan, it is wrong to assume that all Japanese-American citizens supported the action. Roughly 2/3rd of the people who were put in internment camps were born in the United States and were citizens. Violating the rights of citizens who have done nothing wrong is never good to do.

A democratic government is supposed to protect individual liberties and rights, not violate them on purpose.