US Japanese Internment Camps MCQs with Answer
What was the primary reason for the establishment of Japanese internment camps in the US during World War II?
a) Economic development
b) Political asylum
c) National security concerns
d) Cultural exchange
Answer: c) National security concerns
The Executive Order 9066, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, authorized the relocation and internment of:
a) German immigrants
b) Italian immigrants
c) Japanese Americans
d) Mexican immigrants
Answer: c) Japanese Americans
The majority of Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II were:
a) Foreign diplomats
b) Military personnel
c) Issei (first-generation immigrants)
d) Nisei (second-generation Americans)
Answer: d) Nisei (second-generation Americans)
Which US government agency was responsible for the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II?
a) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
b) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
c) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
d) War Relocation Authority (WRA)
Answer: d) War Relocation Authority (WRA)
The first Japanese Americans to be forcibly relocated and interned were from which US state?
a) Hawaii
b) California
c) Oregon
d) Washington
Answer: b) California
The internment camps were primarily located in which regions of the United States?
a) Midwest and South
b) Northeast and New England
c) West Coast and Mountain West
d) Southeast and Gulf Coast
Answer: c) West Coast and Mountain West
What was the term used to refer to the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II?
a) Operation Desert Storm
b) Operation Enduring Freedom
c) Japanese American Repatriation
d) Japanese American Incarceration
Answer: d) Japanese American Incarceration
The internment of Japanese Americans was based on the assumption that they posed a threat due to their:
a) Economic power
b) Religious beliefs
c) Political affiliations
d) Ethnic background
Answer: d) Ethnic background
Which famous Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of the Japanese internment during World War II?
a) Brown v. Board of Education
b) Plessy v. Ferguson
c) Korematsu v. United States
d) Marbury v. Madison
Answer: c) Korematsu v. United States
The conditions in the internment camps were often described as:
a) Luxurious and comfortable
b) Harsh and degrading
c) Supportive and nurturing
d) Festive and celebratory
Answer: b) Harsh and degrading
The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was influenced by:
a) A history of criminal activity
b) Economic hardships
c) Racial prejudice and wartime hysteria
d) Religious differences
Answer: c) Racial prejudice and wartime hysteria
What was the primary purpose of the Japanese internment camps?
a) Education and cultural exchange
b) Assimilation of Japanese Americans
c) Protection from enemy attacks
d) Incarceration of Japanese Americans
Answer: d) Incarceration of Japanese Americans
The internment camps were often overcrowded, lacked privacy, and provided inadequate:
a) Healthcare
b) Job opportunities
c) Education
d) Recreational activities
Answer: a) Healthcare
The process of Japanese American internment led to the loss of their:
a) Citizenship rights
b) Religious beliefs
c) Cultural identity
d) Political affiliations
Answer: c) Cultural identity
After the war, the Japanese American internment camps were:
a) Converted into permanent residences
b) Maintained as historical sites
c) Closed and dismantled
d) Used as military training grounds
Answer: c) Closed and dismantled
What is the term used to describe the financial reparations and formal apology issued by the US government to surviving Japanese American internees?
a) Emancipation Proclamation
b) Japanese American Redress
c) Civil Rights Act
d) Executive Order 9066
Answer: b) Japanese American Redress
The internment camps had a significant impact on the Japanese American community, leading to the loss of:
a) Language skills
b) Economic prosperity
c) Educational opportunities
d) Civil rights and liberties
Answer: d) Civil rights and liberties
Many Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II were:
a) Active members of espionage networks
b) Supporters of Axis powers
c) Innocent citizens and loyal to the US
d) Involved in criminal activities
Answer: c) Innocent citizens and loyal to the US
The Japanese internment camps were heavily criticized for their violation of which constitutional rights?
a) Freedom of speech
b) Freedom of religion
c) Right to bear arms
d) Right to a fair trial
Answer: a) Freedom of speech
In which year did President Ronald Reagan sign the Civil Liberties Act, formally apologizing for the internment of Japanese Americans and providing reparations?
a) 1942
b) 1955
c) 1988
d) 2001
Answer: c) 1988
The internment of Japanese Americans highlighted issues related to:
a) Economic prosperity
b) Social equality
c) International diplomacy
d) Civil liberties
Answer: d) Civil liberties
The “No-No Boys” were interned Japanese Americans who:
a) Supported the internment
b) Refused to answer loyalty questions
c) Collaborated with the camp authorities
d) Were exempt from internment
Answer: b) Refused to answer loyalty questions
Japanese American internment camps were often isolated and located in remote areas to:
a) Provide scenic views
b) Prevent escape attempts
c) Ensure access to jobs
d) Encourage cultural preservation
Answer: b) Prevent escape attempts
The Nisei soldiers, Japanese Americans who served in the US military during World War II, demonstrated their loyalty and patriotism, despite the internment, in units such as the:
a) 442nd Regimental Combat Team
b) 101st Airborne Division
c) Green Berets
d) Navy Seals
Answer: a) 442nd Regimental Combat Team
What was the general public sentiment towards the Japanese American internment after World War II?
a) Strong support and approval
b) Indifference and apathy
c) Outrage and condemnation
d) Confusion and ambivalence
Answer: c) Outrage and condemnation
The Japanese American internment camps symbolize a dark chapter in US history where civil rights were sacrificed for:
a) Economic gain
b) National security
c) Religious freedom
d) Political activism
Answer: b) National security
What significant event triggered the end of Japanese American internment camps?
a) The signing of a peace treaty with Japan
b) The discovery of enemy spies in the camps
c) The dropping of atomic bombs on Japan
d) The assassination of a high-ranking official
Answer: c) The dropping of atomic bombs on Japan
What was the estimated total number of Japanese Americans interned during World War II?
a) Less than 1,000
b) Around 10,000
c) Approximately 120,000
d) More than 1 million
Answer: c) Approximately 120,000
The “Heart Mountain Relocation Center” was one of the internment camps located in which US state?
a) California
b) Wyoming
c) Arizona
d) Utah
Answer: b) Wyoming
Japanese Americans who were interned faced economic hardships and lost their businesses, homes, and:
a) Cultural heritage
b) Political affiliations
c) Citizenship
d) Family ties
Answer: a) Cultural heritage
Japanese Americans interned during World War II were often required to answer a series of loyalty questions, which many found:
a) Unnecessary and irrelevant
b) Confusing and complicated
c) Supportive and encouraging
d) Thought-provoking and insightful
Answer: b) Confusing and complicated
The internment camps had a lasting impact on the mental and emotional well-being of Japanese American internees, leading to:
a) Enhanced resilience and strength
b) Improved family relationships
c) Long-lasting trauma and psychological effects
d) A sense of gratitude for government actions
Answer: c) Long-lasting trauma and psychological effects
Japanese American internment camps were criticized for being a violation of the principles of:
a) Patriotism
b) Democracy and justice
c) Isolationism
d) Economic prosperity
Answer: b) Democracy and justice
The internment camps’ policy of isolating Japanese Americans from the general population perpetuated stereotypes and:
a) Facilitated assimilation
b) Encouraged cultural exchange
c) Promoted diversity
d) Reinforced racial prejudice
Answer: d) Reinforced racial prejudice
The Tule Lake War Relocation Center, one of the internment camps, was located in which US state?
a) California
b) Arizona
c) Idaho
d) Oregon
Answer: c) Idaho
The Japanese American internment camps’ legacy prompted discussions about the balance between:
a) Economic development and military power
b) Civil liberties and national security
c) Immigration and naturalization policies
d) Social welfare programs and educational opportunities
Answer: b) Civil liberties and national security
Japanese Americans who resisted the internment or expressed opposition were often viewed as:
a) Loyal patriots
b) Traitors or troublemakers
c) Exemplary citizens
d) Political activists
Answer: b) Traitors or troublemakers
The “loyalty questionnaire” given to Japanese Americans in the internment camps contained questions that many found:
a) Direct and straightforward
b) Irrelevant and unnecessary
c) Engaging and educational
d) Supportive and reassuring
Answer: b) Irrelevant and unnecessary
The Poston War Relocation Center, one of the largest internment camps, was located in which US state?
a) California
b) Arizona
c) Colorado
d) New Mexico
Answer: b) Arizona
The internment camps’ treatment of Japanese Americans was seen by many as a violation of the principles of the US:
a) Declaration of Independence
b) Constitution’s Bill of Rights
c) Monroe Doctrine
d) Treaty of Versailles
Answer: b) Constitution’s Bill of Rights
The “Manzanar War Relocation Center” was one of the internment camps located in which US state?
a) California
b) Nevada
c) Oregon
d) Washington
Answer: a) California
The internment of Japanese Americans highlighted the challenges of balancing civil liberties with the government’s responsibility for:
a) Economic stability
b) National defense
c) Cultural preservation
d) International diplomacy
Answer: b) National defense
Japanese American internment camps were heavily influenced by wartime hysteria and concerns related to:
a) Labor strikes
b) Inflation
c) Espionage and sabotage
d) Immigration policies
Answer: c) Espionage and sabotage
The “Granada War Relocation Center,” also known as “Amache,” was located in which US state?
a) Arizona
b) California
c) Colorado
d) Wyoming
Answer: c) Colorado
The internment of Japanese Americans was criticized for the lack of evidence supporting their:
a) Educational achievements
b) Economic contributions
c) Loyalty to the US
d) Cultural traditions
Answer: c) Loyalty to the US
The Minidoka War Relocation Center was located in which US state?
a) Idaho
b) California
c) Oregon
d) Washington
Answer: a) Idaho
The internment of Japanese Americans led to a profound impact on their sense of:
a) Isolation
b) Belonging and identity
c) Alienation from society
d) Dependence on government support
Answer: b) Belonging and identity
Japanese American internment camps highlighted the tension between the pursuit of security and the protection of:
a) Ethnic diversity
b) Individual freedoms
c) Economic prosperity
d) Foreign relations
Answer: b) Individual freedoms
The “Topaz War Relocation Center,” also known as the “Central Utah Relocation Center,” was located in which US state?
a) Utah
b) Nevada
c) Colorado
d) New Mexico
Answer: a) Utah
The internment of Japanese Americans prompted discussions about the importance of upholding civil liberties, even during times of:
a) Economic hardship
b) National unity
c) Political change
d) Wartime crisis
Answer: d) Wartime crisis