Japanese Americans in Internment Camps — Reading Comprehension

In 1942, the United States government made a decision that changed the lives of many Japanese Americans. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the government worried that some people of Japanese descent might help Japan in the war. As a result, over 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and move to special places called internment camps.

Families had to pack quickly. They could only take what they could carry. Many had to sell their homes, cars, and businesses. The camps were in remote areas, surrounded by fences and guards. Inside, people lived in small rooms called barracks. Life was hard. There was little privacy, and the food was different from what families ate at home.

Even in these tough times, Japanese Americans showed great bravery and unity. They started schools, grew gardens, and played sports to help each other. Some joined the U.S. Army to prove their loyalty to America. A famous group was the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated units in U.S. history. As one soldier said, "We fought not only the enemy, but prejudice."

After the war ended in 1945, the camps closed. Families returned to their old homes, but many found them gone or damaged. In 1988, the U.S. government said sorry for what happened. They called internment a "grave injustice." Japanese Americans and their families showed strength and courage during a difficult time in American history.

Interesting Fact: Some Japanese American students graduated high school in the camps and even received their diplomas behind barbed wire.

Why were internment camps created?

Who joined the U.S. Army to show loyalty?

What was life like in the camps?

What did families do in the camps?

What happened after the war ended?

Why did the U.S. apologize in 1988?

Japanese Americans showed bravery. True or false?

What does internment mean?