LA302 - Modern World Studies Name ______
World War II: Farewell to Manzanar
In the space provided carefully and thoughtfully respond to each prompt. Respond with well-written, complete sentences.
When first immigrating to the United States, individuals of Japanese descent were seen as harmful to the "American" culture. This idea of a so-called "Japanese Invasion" led to legislature preventing Japanese immigrants from gaining citizenship in the U.S. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in WWII, the anti-Japanese mentality that already existed in America progressed to paranoia, with many Americans of Anglo decent believing that all people with Asian heritage (regardless of country of birth) were national threats. Ironically enough, individuals living in the United States with German and/or Italian backgrounds were not a public concern.
Consider what you have discussed thus far in Language Arts and Social Studies. Why were people of Japanese ancestry perceived as "less American" (and therefore threats) at this time? How did the Japanese-Americans differ from the German- and Italian-Americans?
Do you believe the idea that some nationalities are "less American" than others still exists today? Are Asian-Americans, in particular, still perceived in this manner?
Do you personally believe some nationalities are "more American" than others? Explain.
Without having to divulge your exact results if you are uncomfortable (and knowing that most Americans show some bias), what surprised you about the outcome of your Asian-American test? Why, do you hypothesize, did your results come out as they did?
What is the most common result of the Asian-American test?
What other test did you take? (do not take President test)
Without having to divulge your exact results if you are uncomfortable (and knowing that most Americans show some bias), what surprised you about the outcome this second test? Why, do you hypothesize, did your results come out as they did?
What is the most common result of this second test?