Registration and the "loyalty questionnaire"

To help administer the military draft and work release program, the U.S. Army and the War Relocation Authority (WRA) produced "loyalty questionnaires" for all Japanese Americans seventeen years of age and older. The questionnaires contained two questions that caused confusion and controversy. Despite serious problems with the wording and meaning of the questions, government officials and others generally considered those who answered "no" to these two questions to be "disloyal" to the United States, and they were transferred to the Tule Lake concentration camp which was designated a segregation camp. "Yes" answers to these questions made Japanese Americans eligible for service in the U.S. Army, and some became eligible for release and resettlement in areas outside of the West Coast exclusion zones.

World War II (283)
Administration (228)
Registration and the "loyalty questionnaire" (294)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Japanese American Joint Board, Loyalty questionnaire, Segregation

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294 items
Shig Kaseguma Interview Segment 14 (ddr-manz-1-32-14)
vh Shig Kaseguma Interview Segment 14 (ddr-manz-1-32-14)
The controversy over the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"
Bob Fuchigami Interview Segment 30 (ddr-manz-1-28-30)
vh Bob Fuchigami Interview Segment 30 (ddr-manz-1-28-30)
Thoughts on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire": "that was a fiasco"
George Maeda Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-159-15)
vh George Maeda Interview Segment 15 (ddr-manz-1-159-15)
Talking with family about the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"
June T. Watanabe Interview Segment 10 (ddr-manz-1-160-10)
vh June T. Watanabe Interview Segment 10 (ddr-manz-1-160-10)
Friends move to Tule Lake as a result of the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"
Patricia Mariko Morikawa Sakamoto Interview Segment 11 (ddr-manz-1-167-11)
vh Patricia Mariko Morikawa Sakamoto Interview Segment 11 (ddr-manz-1-167-11)
Parents' separation after answering the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"
Kenji Ogawa Interview Segment 11 (ddr-manz-1-170-11)
vh Kenji Ogawa Interview Segment 11 (ddr-manz-1-170-11)
Parents' decision to answer "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" and being sent to Tule Lake
Sumiko Yamauchi Interview Segment 18 (ddr-manz-1-135-18)
vh Sumiko Yamauchi Interview Segment 18 (ddr-manz-1-135-18)
Family's discussion of the draft and the so-called "loyalty questionnaire"
Kenji Maruko Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1010-8-21)
vh Kenji Maruko Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1010-8-21)
Signing "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," attending meetings of other resisters

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the …

Charlie Matsubara - Mary Matsubara - Evelyn Togami Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1009-3-19)
vh Charlie Matsubara - Mary Matsubara - Evelyn Togami Interview Segment 19 (ddr-densho-1009-3-19)
Feeling obligated to answer "yes" to the so-called "loyalty questions"

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of …

Fred Oda Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1015-9-20)
vh Fred Oda Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1015-9-20)
Answering "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," then changing to "yes-yes"
Nelson Takeo Akagi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1013-2-16)
vh Nelson Takeo Akagi Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1013-2-16)
Family responses to the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" and draft
Nelson Takeo Akagi Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1013-2-15)
vh Nelson Takeo Akagi Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1013-2-15)
Being asked to sign the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" outside of camp
Norman I. Hirose Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1013-7-24)
vh Norman I. Hirose Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1013-7-24)
Answering "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" because mother wanted to go to Japan
Chizuko Iyama - Ernie Iyama Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1012-5-4)
vh Chizuko Iyama - Ernie Iyama Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1012-5-4)
Difficulties with the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" (audio only)

This interview is audio-only. It contains raw footage used by Steven Okazaki in his 1985 film Unfinished Business.

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this …

Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview I Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1005-1-14)
vh Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview I Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1005-1-14)
Transferees to and from Tule Lake

Eiichi Edward Sakauye shot footage of the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming, from 1943-1945, on 8 mm film. This interview is of Mr. Sakauye providing voice-over descriptions for his original footage.

Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1016-4-4)
vh Gene Akutsu Interview Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1016-4-4)
Making the decision to resist the draft

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

Shizuko
vh Shizuko "Suzie" Sakai Interview Segment 7 (ddr-one-7-4-7)
Unrest surrounding the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" in camp

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

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