Japanese American "Internment" (250-0-20)

Instructors

Shana Bernstein
847/467-6850
620 Lincoln #205
Dr. Bernstein received her Ph.D. in U.S. History from Stanford University. Her research focuses on 20th century social reform, specifically civil rights and environmental justice. She teaches classes in Legal Studies, American Studies, and History on comparative race and ethnicity, immigration, and the history of health.

Meeting Info

Fisk Hall 114: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

Twenty-first century politicians and their spokespeople have referred to the World War II imprisonment of Japanese Americans as a possible precedent for politics towards Muslims, while others have invoked similar logic relating to "military necessity" to justify poor treatment of immigrants or others deemed a "threat" to U.S. security. Yet many Americans remain ignorant about this important and understudied episode in U.S. history. This discussion-based course examines events leading up to the mass imprisonment of a group of people based on race including the role played by wartime emergency language, the experiences of the imprisoned Americans, and the wartime policy's consequences. It focuses on the intersections between race, gender, nation, and law. Readings include secondary and primary sources, including related court cases, executive orders, documentary films, memoirs, and fiction.

Students will be expected to read and participate daily, as well as write three papers throughout the quarter (two approx. 4-6 pages, one approx. 10 pages).

Cross-listed with ASIAN_AM 250-0

Registration Requirements

Attendance at first class required.

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the imprisonment from multiple perspectives, experiences, and primary sources (e.g. including traditional texts, documentary films, memoir, government documents, photographs, art, and other primary sources, as well as fiction).
2. Identify and explain events leading up to the mass imprisonment of a group of people based on race, the role played by wartime emergency language, the experiences of Japanese Americans, and the consequences of this wartime policy.
3. Explore and analyze intersections among race, gender, nation, and the law, both in the context of the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II as well as in a larger historical context.
4. Understand the role of law in justifying the imprisonment, and in its aftermath.
5. Foster analytical, reading, discussion, and writing skills.
6) To learn to analyze the past using both primary and secondary sources including how to analyze and critique sources and understand how scholars use them to formulate arguments and speak to each other.
7. To teach empathy to better understand historical actions and actors as a product of their time and place.
8. To understand chronology/change over time.

Teaching Method

Seminar/Discussion

Evaluation Method

Papers worth 70% of the course grade (20%, 20%, 30%) Discussion worth 30% of the course grade

Class Materials (Required)

This course will have required books/other materials.

- Yoshiko Uchida, University of Washington Press, Desert Exile: The Uprooting of a Japanese American Family, 2015, ISBN 9780295994758, paperback

- Mine Okubo, University of Washington Press, Citizen 13660, 2014, ISBN 9780295993546, paperback

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Antirequisite: Student may not receive credit for both LEGAL_ST 250-0 and ASIAN_AM 250-0.