The United States of America is no stranger to war. Throughout history, many Americans have given their lives for this country. America has been involved in many conflicts, from early colonial settlers fighting Native Americans, to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The war also united our country; however, it has also divided this great nation. During these wars some American races found themselves in the crossfire. Ethnic groups range from Native Americans during the Indian Wars, to the treatment of African Americans during and after the Civil War. In this article I want to focus on World War II. Everyone knows what happened in Europe and the Pacific Ocean, but I want to focus on the treatment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. While many people are aware of the mistreatment of Native Americans and African Americans, many Americans consequently overlook the mistreatment of Japanese Americans on our own soil. suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan...As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have ordered that all measures be taken for our defense...with confidence in our forces armies - with the boundless determination of our people - we will achieve the inevitable triumph - so help us God." That speech was addressed to the nation by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Shortly thereafter, America entered in World War II and anti-Japanese hysteria struck like the bubonic plague. At the time, over 120,000 Japanese-Americans lived in the United States and approximately 110,000 resided on the West Coast. Approximately 80,000 were... middle of paper... aid to survivors. Long legal battles were fought to see which Japanese Americans received what amount. The sites of former detention camps were declared historic landmarks as a reminder that our nation has failed to protect all of our citizens. Once again America apologized through money. Works Cited "Franklin D. Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Speech." TeachingAmericanHistory.org - Free seminars and summer institutes for social studies teachers. Network. 09 April 2011.Shaffer, R. (1999). Opposition to Internment: Defending the Rights of Japanese Americans During World War II. Historical, 61(3), 597. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.Robinson, G. (2010). A tragedy of democracy: the Japanese confinement in North America. Journal of Transnational American Studies, 2(1), 1-8. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.