Internment of Japanese Americans
Each week, I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language. You are welcome to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.
On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which called for the incarceration of Japanese American citizens, following Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Following the executive order, the entire West Coast was designated a military exclusion area, and all Japanese Americans living there were taken to assembly centers before being sent to concentration camps in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Arkansas. Similar actions were taken against individuals of Japanese descent in Canada. Internees were prohibited from taking more than they could carry into the camps, and many were forced to sell some or all of their property, including their homes and businesses. At the camps, which were surrounded by barbed wire fences and patrolled by armed guards, internees often lived in overcrowded barracks with minimal furnishing.
You can read more about this here: Internment of Japanese Americans - Wikipedia
Vocabulary
Language Level - B2
We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.
A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.
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Specialist (n, adj.)
- Species (n.)
- Speed (v.)
- Spiritual (adj.)
- Split (v, n.)
- Sponsor (v, n)
- Spot (v.)
- Spread (n.)
- Stable (adj.)
- Stage (v.)
Study these words with Quizlet
Grammar Tip
Language Level - B1
The Passive Voice
When we talk about history, we often use the passive voice. This lets us focus on what happened, instead of who did the action. The topic of Japanese internment camps is an important part of history, and it provides real examples of how English uses the passive.
Active vs. Passive
Active voice: The subject does the action. → The government moved families.
Passive voice: The subject receives the action. → Families were moved by the government.
How to Form the Passive (Past Simple)
Subject + was/were + past participle
was (for singular subjects)
were (for plural subjects)
Examples:
The camps were built in 1942.
One family was moved from California to Utah.
Why Use Passive in History?
The action is more important than the person who did it.
Sometimes the “doer” is obvious or not important.
Example: Rights were taken away. (We know it was the government, but the focus is on the action.)
Examples in Context
- Japanese Americans were sent to camps far from home.
- Personal property was sold or was left behind.
- Schools and jobs were interrupted.
- The camps were closed in 1945.
- Many years later, an official apology was given.
Let's Practice!
Part A. Change from Active → Passive
- The U.S. government created the camps.
- Soldiers guarded the camps.
- The government apologized in 1988.
- Officials gave families $20,000 in compensation.
Part B. Fill in the blanks with the correct passive form
5. Thousands of people ______ (move) to camps in 1942.
6. Letters ______ (send) to families telling them to leave their homes.
7. The Constitution ______ (not protect) their rights at that time.
8. Later, history books ______ (write) to remember this period.
Reading and Listening Tip
Language Level - B2
Practice listening and reading skills while learning about this ugly history in America.
Weekly Challenge
Language Level - C1
Increase your vocabulary with this in-depth video lesson:
How can I help?
Send me a message if you have any questions or feedback!
