Executive Order 9102 facts for kids
| Establishing the War Relocation Authority in the Executive Office of the President and Defining Its Functions and Duties | |
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| Type | Executive order |
|---|---|
| Executive Order number | 9102 |
| Signed by | Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 18, 1942 |
| Federal Register details | |
| Publication date | {{#property:P577}} |
| Document citation | {{#property:P1031}} |
| Summary | |
| Establishes the War Relocation Authority | |
Executive Order 9102 was an important order signed by the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 18, 1942. This order created a special government agency called the War Relocation Authority (WRA). The WRA was in charge of moving and holding Japanese Americans in special camps during World War II.
The order was active for several years and officially ended on June 30, 1946. The person in charge of the WRA reported directly to the President of the United States.
Who Led the War Relocation Authority?
The first person chosen to lead the WRA was Milton S. Eisenhower. He had worked for the United States Department of Agriculture before this new role.
In June 1942, Eisenhower left the WRA to work for another government office. Dillon S. Myer then took over as the new Director. Myer later shared that Eisenhower found the job very difficult. Eisenhower was worried about the idea of the WRA itself. He faced many challenges, including strong feelings against Japanese Americans from parts of the American public during the war. Moving people from their homes to temporary centers was also very stressful for him.
Challenges Faced by Leaders
By the time Dillon S. Myer became the Director in June 1942, plans to move all Japanese Americans had already been announced. Myer later realized that many of the reasons given for this forced move were not true. He found that many rumors used to justify the evacuation, especially after the attack on Pearl Harbor, were completely false.
Myer also noted that powerful people supported the evacuation. For example, Earl Warren, who was California's Attorney General and wanted to become governor, was in favor of the move. Another key person was Colonel Karl Bendetsen, who strongly advised General John L. DeWitt to carry out the evacuation.
The Relocation Process
Within nine months, the WRA opened ten large camps in seven different states. They moved over 100,000 people from temporary holding centers. About 64 percent of these people were American citizens.
Over the next 19 months, around 120,000 Japanese Americans were moved from the Pacific coast. They were placed in these internment camps, away from their homes and communities.
