There is no doubt that the interment of Japanese during World War II is not a stellar event in the rights of individuals. It should be kept in mind that such government instigated intrusive acts had happened here many times in prior years.
It should also be understood that this happened over a period of time (mostly during War Time) and was not supported by all Americans. A short summary of events, as they occurred, might help to understand how this all came about.
1939
Lists of "dangerous" enemy aliens and citizens began to be compiled in various government departments, such as the FBI, special intelligence agencies of the Justice Department, the Office of Naval Intelligence, and the army's Military Intelligence Division.8
1940
The census found 126,947 Japanese Americans; 62.7% were citizens by birth. In addition, 157,905 were in the Territory of Hawaii, and 263 in the Territory of Alaska.2
Summer, 1941
The Hawaiian National Guard (made up largely of Nisei) was federalized and later became the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team.1
November 1, 1941
The Japanese Language School at the Presidio of San Francisco was formed. In the first class were 45 Nisei and Kibei and 15 others. It was moved to Camp Savage, Minnesota, renamed the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) and later moved to Fort Snelling, Minnesota.1
November 7, 1941
Curtis Munson issued his report on the Japanese Americans living on the coast.12
November 26, 1941
Grace Tully (Roosevelt's secretary) told Henry Field (anthropologist and aide to Roosevelt) that the President was ordering him to produce, in the shortest time possible, the full names and addresses of each American-born and foreign-born Japanese listed by locality within each state. She told him to use the 1930 and 1940 census.13
December 7, 1941
Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
A blanket presidential warrant authorized U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle to have the FBI arrest a predetermined number of "dangerous enemy aliens," including German, Italian, and Japanese nationals. 737 Japanese Americans arrested by the end of the day.2
December 8, 1941
U.S. entered World War II.
December 11, 1941
FBI detained 1370 Japanese Americans classified as "dangerous enemy aliens."2
December 22, 1941
The Agriculture Committee of the L.A. Chamber of Commerce recommended that all Japanese nationals be put under "absolute Federal control."2
December 29, 1941
All enemy aliens in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada were ordered to surrender contraband.2
January 5, 1942
Japanese American selective service registrants classified as enemy aliens (IV-C). Many Japanese American soldiers discharged or assigned to menial labor such as "kitchen police."2
January 6, 1942
"I do not believe that we could be any too strict in our consideration of the Japanese in the face of the treacherous way in which they do things," wrote Leland Ford, L.A. Congressman, in a telegram to Secretary of State Cordell Hull, asking that all Japanese Americans be removed from the West Coast.2
January 28, 1942
The California State Personnel Board voted to bar all "descendants of natives with whom the United States [is] at war" from all civil service positions. This was only enforced against Japanese Americans.2
January 29, 1942
Attorney General Francis Biddle began the establishment of prohibited zones forbidden to all enemy aliens. German, Italian, and Japanese aliens were ordered to leave San Francisco waterfront areas.2
January 30, 1942
"Unless something is done it may bring about a repetition of Pearl Harbor," said Earl Warren, California Attorney General, calling Japanese Californians the "Achilles heel of the entire civilian defense effort."2
February 4, 1942