Japanese Internment - The Questionnaire

The Questionnaire

Japanese registering for evacuee induction; Visalia Control Station, Visalia, Calif. 1942.

On February 8, 1943, the War Relocation Authority (WRA) and the Army gave out applications called “Statement of U.S. Citizenship of Japanese American Ancestry.” All Japanese people who were 17 years old and older had to answer a questionnaire, which was one of the many causes of eruptions within the camps (Hatta).

The 2 questions that were designed to separate the “loyal” from the “disloyal” Japanese-Americans were:

Question #27: Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty wherever ordered?

Question #28: Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any or all attack by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance or obedience to the Japanese emperor, or any other foreign government, power, or organization? (Ibid).

War Relocation Authority Application for Leave Clearance Detail, for women.
Image Source: A More Perfect Union

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