Question

Throughout American history, the U.S. government has taken actions that restricted civil liberties during times of crisis. One of the most well-known examples is the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. However, this was not the first time the government targeted a specific group in the name of national security. Another example of restricted civil liberties occurred during World War I, when the government passed the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918. These laws made it illegal to speak out against the war effort, criticize the government, or interfere with military recruitment. People who opposed the war—such as socialists, labor activists, and political radicals—were arrested and jailed for expressing their views. One of the most famous cases was Eugene V. Debs, a socialist leader who was sentenced to 10 years in prison simply for giving a speech against the war. There are both similarities and differences between these two events. Like the internment of Japanese Americans, the Espionage and Sedition Acts were justified as necessary for national security. In both cases, the government used fear and wartime hysteria to justify violating constitutional rights. However, while Japanese Americans were targeted because of their ancestry, those affected by the Espionage and Sedition Acts were targeted because of their political beliefs and speech. Additionally, after World War II, Japanese American internees eventually received a formal apology and compensation, while many people arrested under the Espionage and Sedition Acts never had their convictions overturned. These events raise important questions about the balance between security and civil liberties, particularly during times of war and national crisis. 1. Analyzing Cause and Effect: ○ What were the key factors that led to the internment of Japanese Americans? How did fear and wartime hysteria contribute to this decision? Support your response with evidence from the text.(1 sentence)

Answer 1

The internment of Japanese Americans was driven by key factors such as wartime fear and hysteria following the attack on Pearl Harbor, where the U.S. government, influenced by racial prejudice and concerns over national security, unjustifiably viewed Japanese Americans as potential threats, leading to their mass incarceration.