Name: Latham, Tim
E-mail: ksfbcoach@hotmail.com
Topic: Internment of Japanese-Americans in Arkansas during WWII
Grade: 9-12
Time: 1-2
Ark. Hist. Framework: 1.1.10, 1.1.11, 1.1.14, 1.1.15, 5.1.11,
5.1.14
Objective: The student will be able to identify the location, purpose, and
details of the 2 Internment Camps in Arkansas for Japanese-Americans during
WWII.
Set: Begin with a review of Pearl Harbor (the beginning of WWII).
Pose the question: "What was the immediate reaction of Americans toward
Americans of Japanese descent after Pearl Harbor?"
Materials: American History Text, Internet webpages
SUGGESTION: Make a powerpoint presentation using many pictures
available on these webpages.
Key Terms: Internment Camp, Concentration Camp, Evacuee, Japanese-American,
War Relocation Authority, National Security, Resettlement
Key Facts: Internment Camps were located in Desha Rowher and Chicot Jerome
Peak evacuee populations were Rowher (8475) and Jerome (8497)
Majority of Rowher evacuees were urban, from the Los Angelos area
Jerome evacuees were split 50/50 rural/urban from California and
Hawaii
Rohwer encompassed 10,161 acres; Jerome was 10,000 acres
95% of Rowher evacuees signed U.S. loyalty oath; 75% of Jerome
evacuees
4.7% of elgible male Rowher evacuees joined US military; .9% of
Jerome
Activities: Students will review the incident at Pearl Harbor and peoples
immediate reactions toward Japanese-Americans in the U.S., mainly those along
the West Coast. Through class discussion will achieve an understanding of
why Japanese-Americans weren't trusted and eventually evacuated to Internment
Camps for National Security. Define and discuss key terms related to the
camps. Identify and place Rowher and Jerome on a blank Arkansas map,
including the counties they were in and the communities they were close
too.
Closure: Many Americans overreacted toward Japanese-Americans following
Pearl Harbor. However, considering the horror witnessed at Pearl Harbor,
and the shock America felt, it is also understandable. The only problem
with our reaction is that this is America, and we violated many of their Civil
Rights. Many Japanese-Americans felt this same horror and shock, and
joined the military. They were formed into a unit of their own and fought
bravely in Europe. Most of those recruits came directly from the
Internment Camps.
Assessment: 1. Identify camp locations on a map
2.
Be able to correctly define the key terms
Resources: 1. American History Text
-----------------