Grade 10 History - Unit 3 Lesson 8
WWII – Rights and Freedoms
Democracy is that form of government in which power resides in the people, and this power is exercised either directly by them or by officers elected by them.
In Canada democratic system, you and I have rights and freedoms. These are granted under the 1992 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Yet, what is the difference?
RIGHTS can possibly be described as ELECTORAL RIGHTS. That is, you and I elect the government(s). This right gives you and I some say in who governs. It does NOT guarantee that the elected officials will respect your and my freedom. In Canada, rights include
(1) Right to vote
(2) Right to enter, remain in and leave Canada, as well as move between provinces and gain livelihood in any province
(3) Right to life, liberty and security
(4) Right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure, and not to be arbitrarily detained or subjected to cruel treatment / punishment
(5) Right to be equal before the law
The core of FREEDOM is the ability to control your own life and property. Freedom is sometimes called a SUBSTANTIVE RIGHT. It includes
(1) Freedom of conscience and religion
(2) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication
(3) Freedom of peaceful assembly
(4) Freedom of association
Rights and Freedoms…2
This editorial cartoon expresses an opinion in the Western world about (1) Islamic terrorists and / or (2) a stereotype of Muslims. In the Muslim world, this cartoon may be offensive and degrading. Does our sense of freedom of speech allow this cartoon? Should we defend it? Is it hate mongering promoting a biased representation of Muslims? Should it be disallowed under our rights (e.g., security, equality)
Finally, is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms of any value to you?
History of Canada – Unit 3 Lesson 8
WORLD WAR II – JAPANESE-CANADIAN INTERNMENT
At the start of World War II, nearly 23,000 people of Japanese descent lived in Canada, most in British Columbia. Three quarters were naturalized or native-born Canadians.
Japanese-Canadians were allowed to enroll in the Canadian Army before the bombing of Pearl Harbour. After the bombing, the government would not accept Japanese. In 1942, the Canadian Government ordered all Japanese males between the ages 14 and 45 to move from the British Columbia coast to Internment Camps located inland. The action was promoted as safeguarding the pacific coast from Japanese spies.
As the war progressed, problems that had existed for unchecked for years came to the forefront. Under the pretence of homeland protection, Japanese-Canadians were denied their basic rights, issued special clothing, stripped of their personal belongings and property, relocated into barbed wire camps and forced into manual labour. As well, Japanese schools were closed, Japanese newspapers were shut down and a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed. These actions were similar to in nature to the Nazi impoverishment and relocation of Jews to ghettos prior to WWII.
Canada had 20 Japanese-Canadian camps scattered in isolated areas throughout the country: ten internment camps, three road maintenance camps, two prisoner of war camps (POW), and five self-supporting camps.
While the Canadian forced resettlement mirrored the wartime policy of the American government, there were some important differences. In the USA families were kept together. In Canada, men were relocated to work or POW camps while women and children were moved to the self-supporting camps. In many instances, Japanese-Canadians were forced to pay for their internment.
In many camps, living conditions were appalling. Families were forced to live in cramped quarters with ten other families sharing one stove. Many Japanese were placed in tents or uninsulated houses. During the winters, lanterns were placed under the beds to try and keep warm. The living conditions were so poor that citizens of wartime Japan sent food and other goods through the Red Cross. In total, the Canadian Government spent one-third the per capita amount expended by the USA on its interment program.
In 1945, the Canadian government extended the War Measures Act. As part of the final solution, Japanese-Canadian citizens were forced to repatriate to Japan (a country most of the Japanese-Canadians had never been to before) or move to Eastern Canada.
It was not until 1949 -- four years after Japan had surrendered – that Japanese-Canadians were allowed to return to British Columbia.
In 1988, 111 years after the first Japanese entered Canada and 43 years after WWII, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney formally apologized to Japanese Canadians and authorized the provision of $21,000 to each of the survivors of wartime detention.
TASK
Complete one of the following tasks.
1. Many people believe the Japanese-Canadians were punished for a crime they did not commit and this event was based entirely on racism. With the information above and research, write a two-page Opinion Piece on this event in Canadian history and its impact on the Canadian identity.
2. In World War I, Austrians and Germans were detained in POW camps using the excuse of homeland defense. In World War II, Japanese-Canadians were interned in detention camps with, once again, the excuse of defense. After 9-11 and the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, some Arab-Canadians and people of Arab descent had been detained. In all cases, individual rights were suspended. In your opinion, have we learned from history or are these acts justified due to events at that time? Write a two-page Opinion Piece in this regard and give your viewpoint of their impact on the Canadian identity.