What was Executive Order 9066 associated with during World War II?

Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in February 1942, authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. This order was primarily a response to fears of espionage and sabotage following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The decision to intern Japanese Americans was driven by racial prejudice and wartime hysteria rather than evidence of disloyalty. As a result, approximately 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent, most of whom were U.S. citizens, were forcibly removed from their homes on the West Coast and placed in internment camps.

This historical context highlights the significant impact of Executive Order 9066 on the rights and lives of Japanese Americans, marking a troubling episode in U.S. history regarding civil liberties during wartime.