Lesson II: Camps and the Constitution

A number of violations of the Bill of Rights: (Amendments 1-10, adopted in 1791, of the U.S. Constitution) was committed in the incarceration of Japanese Americans, based on "prejudice, the failure of political leadership and war hysteria," according to the U.S. government's own study commission.

Objective: By ascertaining what violations of the Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10, adopted in 1791, to the United States Constitution) were committed in the incarceration of Japanese Americans, students will see more clearly the value of those rights.

Materials: Copy of The Bill of Rights and the film Unfinished Business.

Method:

1. Distribute copies of the Bill of Rights. Devote at least one session studying/discussing each article, using contemporary issues to illustrate. For example, Article II has been used by firearm advocates as a rationale for owning guns. Students should also be familiar with the incarceration episode either by viewing the above film or reading from a list the teacher has prepared from the bibliography.

2. Have students write the violations of the Bill of Rights that occurred in the incarceration and state reasons why they were violations.

3. Have students discuss and debate their answers.