UPDATED FEBRUARY 2024
This unit provides an overview of events leading to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the resulting effects it had on Hawai‘i, including the changing role of the U.S. military, the anti-Japanese sentiments in internment camps, and the influence on the 442nd battalion.
Through films, readings, writing activities, and group work, students will gain background knowledge of the impact of Pearl Harbor, explore the subsequent ramifications that internment had on Japanese communities, and tackle ethical issues surrounding the implementation of Martial Law, Americanism, and the expression of loyalty. While also learning about the impact of World War II on Hawai‘i, students will explore the cultural and traditional values of Japanese immigrants, investigate stories about internees in Hawai‘i and weigh their knowledge of history to form a judgment of whether internment was justified. Finally, students will follow the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team for a broader conception of what it meant for young Japanese males to enlist in the U.S. and express patriotism.