California WWII Prison Camp

In 1942 during WWII, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were interned during World War II. Today, you can visit the site with original and restored buildings in California's Owen's Valley. Passes are FREE :). The land is 814 acres, so be sure to bring your water (especially in the hot summers). It is estimated that two thirds of all Japanese Americans interned at Manzanar were American citizens at birth.  The remainer were legal residents that lived in the state for decades,  but were denied citizenship.  The first Japanese Americans arrived at Manzanar in March of 1942,  were brought to help build the camp.  The camp was surrounded by 500 acre  by barbed wire, 8 guard towers, searchlights and military police. By September of 1942,  an estimated 10,000 people were crowed into 500 barracks organized into 36 blocks with 200 to 400 per block. Life was harsh with crowded barracks, no partitions for showering or toileting, harsh hot summers, poor living conditions and loss of their former lives.  The attack on Pearl Harbor was on December 7, 1941 leading the US into WWII.  This ultimately forever changed the lives of 120,000 Japanese Americans (or legal immigrants) including men, women and children forever.  Pearl Harbor intensified already existing racial prejudices and fear of potential sabotage and espionage by Japanese Americans.  Without due process, the US government gave these people only days to decide what to do with their homes, businesses and possessions.  Most sold with significant losses.  By November of 1942, the relocation process was complete.  Restitution was offered to 66,000 persons who was relocated at the rate of close to $20,000 in the late 1980s. I do not believe restitution was ever given with the 12 million slaves brought to America..