Youth in World War II
This thesis project consists of two focuses. The first part focuses on the experiences of Japanese American adolescents who were interned with their parents at the Central Utah Relocation Center during World War II. Although these students were born in the United States and therefore U.S. citizens, they were considered "Japanese" by the U.S. government and many of its citizens. When the U.S. government forcibly removed Japanese American youth and their families from the West Coast, this heavily affected Japanese American youth's perceptions of themselves and the country of their birth. This portion of the project includes a digital exhibit, a video exploring the living conditions at the relocation center, and a high school lesson plan. The second portion of this project focuses on World War II experiences of Japanese and Filipino youth. Although Japan and the Philippines were enemies during World War II, many youth of both countries experienced similar levels of indoctrination, violence, and starvation—demonstrating the level of totality of the Pacific War. This portion of the project includes a digital exhibit, a paper, and a high school lesson plan.