Internment and the Constitution — Quiz

Question 7 • United States History and Geography

Why were Japanese Americans living on the West Coast interned after the Pearl Harbor attack?

Answer

Japanese Americans were interned to prevent them from joining the German side in the European campaign.

Many people feared the presence of Japanese spies after Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor.

Japanese Americans were interned so that they might more easily contribute to the war effort.

Many community leaders feared that Japanese Americans might be attacked by angry mobs and needed a safe place to live.

Explanation

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, fear and suspicion spread that Japanese Americans might be spies or help Japan. The U.S. government used these fears to justify forcing Japanese Americans on the West Coast into incarceration camps, even though there was no evidence that they posed a widespread threat. Choice B best matches the reason given at the time.

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