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There were reasons for FDR mistreating the Japanese more than the Germans, that have very little to do with the conflict. Basically, he was a despicable piece o
by inflatableDodo 7y ago
There were reasons for FDR mistreating the Japanese more than the Germans, that have very little to do with the conflict. Basically, he was a despicable piece of shit in his views on people from Asia, long before war broke out. Here is FDR writing in 1925;
>“Let us first examine that nightmare to many Americans, especially our friends in California, the growing population of Japanese on the Pacific slope. It is undoubtedly true that in the past many thousands of Japanese have legally or otherwise got into the United States, settled her and raised up children who became American citizens. Californians have properly objected on the sound basic ground that Japanese immigrants are not capable of assimilation into the American population. If this had throughout the discussion been made the sole ground for the American attitude all would have been well, and the people of Japan would today understand and accept our decision.
>Anyone who has traveled in the Far East knows that the mingling of Asiatic blood with European or American blood produces, in nine cases out of ten, the most unfortunate results. There are throughout the East many thousands of so-called Eurasians—men and women and children partly of Asiatic blood and partly of European or American blood. These Eurasians are, as a common thing, looked down on and despised, both by the European and American who reside there, and by the pure Asiatic who lives there."
- masklinn 7y agoCalifornian farmers were also very interested in booting japanese farmers out and taking over their land. Not just because it was good land, but because japanese family farms were very efficient and proficient "truck farms" (growing cash crops like strawberries, peppers, beans, gourds, … for markets and restaurants): californian japanese farms had almost 10% of that market before the removal order, and their farms were worth ~$250/acre on average, versus ~$40 US average. Stumping for the "victory garden" was a direct consequence of the internment order, and tens of millions worth of truck crops unexpectedly missing from the market.