Internment Timeline

Pearl Harbor Attacking

Dec 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor The morning of December 7, 1941, the Japenese launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Naval Base in Hawaii. More than 24,000 Americans were killed, 21 ships had been either damaged or had sunk, and more than 188 U.S. aircrafts were destroyed. The attack of Pearl Harbor angered the U.S. so much that they forgot about their policy of isolationism and declared war on the Japanese causing World War II.

Presidential Proclamation No. 2525

Dec 7, 1941

Presidential Proclamation No. 2525 President Roosevelt signed the Proclamation No. 2525 declaring all natives, citizens or subjects of the Empire of Japan living in the U.S. and not naturalized to be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies.

Attorney General Freezes Travel and Orders Surrender of Weapons

Jan 1, 1942

Attorney General Freezes Travel Attorney General freezes travel by all suspected enemy aliens, orders surrender of weapons.

President Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 9066

Feb 19, 1942

Roosevelt signs Executive Order Two weeks after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed the Executive Order authorizing the removal of any or all people from military areas as deemed as necessary or desirable.

Army Acquire Owens Valley Site For Manazanar Temporary Detention Center

Mar 22, 1942

Army acquire Owens Valley Site for Manzanar temporary detention center First large contingent of Japanese and Japanese Americans moved from Los Angeles to the Manzanar temporary detention center operated by the Army in the Owens Valley of California.

Secretary of War Henry Stimson announced plans to form an all-Japanese American Combat team to be made up of volunteers from both the mainland and Hawaii

Jan 23, 1943

Secretary Of War Announces Plan To Form All-Japanese Combat Team Secretary of War Henry Stimson announced plans to form an all-Japanese American Combat team to be made up of volunteers from both the mainland and Hawaii.

Regristration For Army Recruitment

Feb 8, 1943

Regristration for Army Recruitment Registration (loyalty questionnaire) of all persons over 17 years of age for Army recruitment, segregation and relocation begins at most of the internment camps.

WRA Announces Internment Camps Will Close

Dec 18, 1944

WRA Announces Internment Camps Will Be Closed The WRA announced that all internment camps would be closed before the end of 1945 and the entire WRA program would be liquidated on June 30, 1946.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules That One Group Of Citizens May Be Singled Or Expelled Out

Dec 18, 1944

U.S. Supreme Court Rules That One Group Of Citizens May Be Singled Or Expelled Out December 18 Korematsu v U.S.: the U.S. Supreme Court rules that one group of citizens may be singled out and expelled from their homes and imprisoned for several years without trial, based solely on their ancestry.

VJ Day

Aug 14, 1945

VJ Day Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.

Internment Camps Closed Except Tule Lake Center

Oct 15, 1945

Internment Camps Closed Except Tule Lake Center All WRA Internment camps are closed except for Tule Lake Center.