Challege of Democracy

The video “Challenge to Democracy” revolved around the time in the 1940s when the Japanese were taken from their homes and moved to relocation camps. It explained how the camps were split up into blocks, similar to the looks of a motel, with each one housing up to 300 people. Each family was placed in a 20x25 foot one room apartment that had only a stove, cots, blankets, and mattresses. The bathroom and laundry rooms were shared by everyone in a block. The video then described working conditions for the Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans on the relocation camps. It talked about how agriculture was a large part of their work, as well as their source of food. Beginning workers started out earning 12 dollars per month with the skilled workers like doctors earning only 19 dollars. This was not enough money to buy other things that the government did not provide, which left most having to withdraw money from their savings accounts. Education was provided from the Japanese children. At the high school level, students usually were provided with vocational training for labor jobs such as farming, mechanics, welding, etc. Other things like health-care, church, voting, and the army were also mentioned as being allowed/provided. All of this information lead to the conclusion that the United States government didn’t provide a good life for the Japanese immigrants/Japanese American at the relocation camps, but that it was acceptable that they did it because it was for the security of the country.

The movie did not mention any resistance of the Japanese about being placed in relocation camps. What kind of resistance took place? Were many killed in the process or at the camps for not obeying the government? The narrator seemed unbiased most of the time in regards to whether or not the treatment was fair or unfair. Sometime, however, it seemed that the relocation camps were seen as not adequate living situations, but he never mentioned the idea that the government was wrong. All of the Japanese shown in the video appeared either happy playing baseball, working hard, or unemotional. No one was shown angry or sad. I felt that it was mostly just an informative video on the basics of the relocation camps but that downplayed how the Japanese were treated and how they reacted emotionally and physically. I could see why people would volunteer to work on sugar cane farms or join the army. To work on the farms meant that they may have earned more money, be away from the restricting laws and supervision, or even maybe attempt to run-away. As for joining the army, only the Japanese that pledged loyalty to the United States were able to leave the camps. Joining the army is one of the biggest ways to show your dedication to your country, which would then give freedom from the relocation camps.