The United States entered World War II after a surprise attack by the
Japanese on December 7, 1941. U.S. officials feared that Japanese
Americans would betray their country and help Japan. Nearly 120,000
Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and moved into relocation
centers, which some viewed as concentration camps. The internees, backed
by many other Americans, believed that their fundamental rights as U.S.
citizens had been denied. Years later the government apologized for its
unjust actions.