Immigration and citizenship

Japanese immigrants began arriving in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century when workers were recruited to meet the growing need for low-wage laborers in the Territory of Hawaii and on the West Coast. Commodore Perry had opened Japan to American commerce and trade relations in 1853, but anti-Asian sentiment resulted in the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907, which halted the immigration of workers from Japan. In 1910, the Japanese population was about 80,000 in Hawaii and 72,000 on the continental United States. Japanese women continued to enter the country until the 1924 Immigration Act cut off immigration from Japan to the United States. Most of the early Japanese immigrants, the Issei (first generation), came as contract agricultural laborers, although many others were students and merchants. While Japanese immigrants were prohibited by discriminatory laws from becoming naturalized citizens of the United States, their American-born children (nisei) held U.S. citizenship.

Immigration and citizenship (488)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Immigration, Japanese associations

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488 items

Japs Planning to Colonize Brazil. Investigations Lasting Two Years to Be Summarized in Reports to Toku Kawada, Now Visitor in Seattle. (March 14, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-263)

doc Japs Planning to Colonize Brazil. Investigations Lasting Two Years to Be Summarized in Reports to Toku Kawada, Now Visitor in Seattle. (March 14, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-263)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 14, 1915, p. 21

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-263/

doc Citizenship essay (ddr-one-3-115)

Photocopy of a handwritten essay on citizenship written by George Kida, c.1930-1933. Essay covers right, privileges and duties of citizens.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-3-115/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 42, No. 7 (Febuary 17, 1956) (ddr-pc-28-7)

Selected article titles: "Bill implementing Ike's message on immigration ups Japan quota: 563" (p. 1), "House Judiciary considering Lane-Hillings claim bill" (p. 1), "Publication of Letter Arouses Nisei Protest to Newsweek" (p. 1), "JACL telegram defends Nisei loyalty to U.S. in reply to magazine letter" (p. 1), "Colorado community boasts of 100% in naturalization of eligible …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-28-7/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 44, No. 19 (May 10, 1957) (ddr-pc-29-19)

Select article titles: "Continuation of Japanese Farm Labor Held Likely by Hillings" (p. 1); "San Diegans urge elimination of Fuzz Young Story" (p. 1); "'Golden Reel' prize awarded to Nisei" (p. 1); "Against farm labor program but for higher Japan quota" (p. 1); "Seven months remain for 'illegally admitted' aliens in U.S. to change status to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-29-19/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 46, No. 17 (April 25, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-17)

Select article titles: "Sansei slain, innocent victim of teenage gang skirmish" (p.1); "ADC booster in Hawaii helps 1,200 Issei achieve U.S. citizenship" (p.8) Starting in No. 13, the volume number in the header changes from 46 to 26. This printing error is not corrected for the rest of the volume.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-17/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 46, No. 11 (March 14, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-11)

Select article titles: "Five records bettered in JACL pinfest" (p.1); "Naturalization classes resumed to aid Japanese wives of ex-GIs" (p.8); "Documentary film on 1942 evacuation under production" (p.8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-11/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 47, No. 13 (September 26, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-39)

Select article titles: "Man who helped 1,200 former aliens gain U.S. citizenship to be recognized" (p.1); "JACL endorses 'Give a Buck' plan for political campaigns" (p.1); "Buddhist leader appeals to Nisei, Sansei to fuse best of U.S.-Japan cultures" (p.7)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-39/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 46, No. 12 (March 21, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-12)

Select article titles: "Merriam Unabridged Dictionary to note use of 'Jap' as disparaging remark in next edition" (p.1); "Helping other minorities helps all, JACLers told at own Brotherhood dinner" (p.5); "4,000 Japanese war brides in Hawaii; 600 in Chicago area" (p.8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-12/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 47, No.5 (August 1, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-31)

Select article titles: "Stranded Japanese wife of sailor finds U.S. Navy had heart as red tape cut" (p.1); "Urge chapters give delegates free hand on voting of JACL's U.S.-Japan policy" (p. 5); "House passes bill to aid alien not listed as 'Legally Admitted'" (p.8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-31/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 47, No. 8 (August 22, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-34)

Select article titles: "Crucial issues before conventioners" (p.1); "Japanese press still ignores progress of U.S.-born Nisei" (p.7); "Congress approves bills to aid alien status adjustment in U.S." (p.8) Week of Biennium Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-34/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 46, No. 22 (May 30, 1958) (ddr-pc-30-22)

Select article titles: "Sansei gunmen trail date set" (p. 1); "Nisei wins write-in election for California school post" (p.1); "Dr. Nishikawa to be keynote Confab speaker" (p. 1); "Nisei drowns trying to rescue youngster" (p. 3); "Over 6,000 immigrants from Japan admitted during 1957" (p. 8) Starting in No. 13, the volume number in the header …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-30-22/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 50, No. 21 (May 20, 1960) (ddr-pc-32-21)

Select article titles: "Nisei attorney alleges racial bias in San Jose suburban housing tract" (p.1); "Canada relaxes rule permitting citizens to import marriage mates" (p.1)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-32-21/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 50, No. 13 (March 25, 1960) (ddr-pc-32-13)

Select article titles: "Ike's immigration bill hailed as 'step in right direction'" (p. 1); "JACL Accepts Invitation for White House Conference on Youth" (p.1); "Son of Shinto priest becomes convert of Judaism after lifetime study of Old Testament, assisted Jewish refugees flee Nazi terror" (p.3); "Yoshino, Masaoka named delegates to civil liberties meet" (p.8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-32-13/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 50 No. 8 (February 19, 1960) (ddr-pc-32-8)

Select article titles: "40,000 Japanese Admitted to U.S. in Past Decade" (p.1); "Story of Sansei co-ed 'blackbaited' from college sorority because of ancestry places meaning in JACL youth program" (p.3); "'Cap' Tamura promoted county counsel for Orange County, on staff since 1948" (p.8)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-32-8/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol 68, No. 7 (February 14, 1969) (ddr-pc-41-7)

Select article titles: "Immigration centennial plans for fall revealed" (p. 1); "Matsunaga focuses on S.F. State issue" (p. 1); "Japan and President Nixon" (p. 2); "JACL To Support Human Rights Body For Utah" (p. 4); "PSWDC civil rights workshop hears views of two 'involved' Sansei youth" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-41-7/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 68, No. 21 (May 23, 1969) (ddr-pc-41-21)

Select article titles: "JACL firms commemoration of Centennial" (p. 1); " Racist strategy charged in Noguchi hearing" (p. 1); "JACL to Honor Nisei War Dead of Three Wars in May 25 Service" (p. 1); "San Francisco supervisory board adopts Title II repeal resolution" (p. 3)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-41-21/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 69, No. 25 (December 19,1969) (ddr-pc-41-51)

Select article titles: "Brief History of Japanese in Colusa County: Shadow of Its Former Self" (A p. 1); "New history reveals Issei as ideal builders in America despite variances" (A p. 9); "For Better Americans in a Greater America" (D. p. 11); "In a Democracy laws are the people's safeguard" (Supplement p. 3); "The Japanese American: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-41-51/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol 68, No. 3 (January 17, 1969) (ddr-pc-41-3)

Select article titles: "Immigtation law changes sought" (p. 1); "Reno JACL Seeks Heirs Of First Issei In U.S." (p. 1); "Why Dr. Hayakawa accepted college president's job" (p. 1); "'Melting pot' concept resisted by some ethnic groups in America if 'this means Anglo Saxon domination'" (p. 3); "Asian American Studies popular" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-41-3/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 63, No. 16 (October 14, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-41)

Select article titles: "Civil rights fight nothing new to Nisei" (p. 1); "3,261 Japanese Immigrants" (p. 3); "Canadian waves Yellow Peril flag" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-38-41/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 62, No. 7 (February 16, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-7)

Select article titles: "Greater participation of Nisei in gov't urged at San Jose JACL installation" (p.1); "Immigration history of U.S. told in brief in forthcoming 'This Week'" (p.1); "South Seattle Farming Areas May Be Boeing's" (p.1).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-38-7/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 63, No. 26 (December 23-30, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-51)

Select article titles: "Why leadership of Japanese community at time of Evacuation fell upon JACL" (p. A1); "Order of Evacuation Brings on One of America's Greatest Swindles" (p. A3); "The Closing of Manzanar" (p. B1); "Worthy Partners for Building Peace" (p. Supplement 1); "Immigration, Evacuation Claims, Civil Rights" (p. B17). The holiday issue included advertisements bought …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-38-51/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 62, No. 5 (February 4, 1966) (ddr-pc-38-5)

Select article titles: "Success Story: Japanese American Style" (p.1); "Sixth AJA killed in Vietnam, with helicopter team" (p.1); "Henry Kasai, 75, dies of Natural causes in Salt Lake Hospital" (p.1);"Appreciation banquet to three elders of Seattle community draws 300 Issei" (p.5).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-38-5/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 42, No. 10 (March 9, 1956) (ddr-pc-28-10)

Selected article titles: "Lane-Hillings Evacuation Claims Bill Unanimously Passed by House" (p. 1), "Asia Reds keep up discrimination tales" (p. 1), "JACL Asks FBI Hunt 'Lincoln Yamamoto'" (p. 1), "Bob Sakata honored Colorado's young farmer of year" (p. 2), "Oregon governor praises Japanese Americans, say 'no group has better earned' right to citizenship at Snake River …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-28-10/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 59, Vol. 5 (July 31, 1964) (ddr-pc-36-31)

Selected article titles: "Kido's 36-Year Leadership in JACL Commemorated" (p.1, 4), "Naturalized Citizen Wife of Serviceman in Hawaii Denied Voter Registration" (p.1), "Defeat of Prop. 14 Principle Agenda Item for NC-WNDC" (p.1), "Nisei Teacher Pilots Training Class Among Youngsters in N.Y.'s Harlem" (p.1), "Immigration Legislation" (p.2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-36-31/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 58, Vol. 1 (January 3, 1964) (ddr-pc-36-1)

Selected article titles: "West L.A. JACL Concludes First Year Under Woman Presidebt" (p.1), "Senate Subcommittee to Consider Two Proposals for Changes in Immigration Law" (p.1), "Los Angeles Slated for Study Project of Area Redevelopment Administration" (p.1), "1963 in Retrospect" (p.2), "Kawakita Returns to Japan, Grateful to President Kennedy for Release Order" (p.3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-36-1/