Youth in World War II

Author

Alyson Griggs, Utah State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

8-2020

Degree Type

Creative Project

Streaming Media

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

History

Committee Chair(s)

Clayton Brown

Committee

Clayton Brown

Committee

Tammy Proctor

Committee

Andrea Hawkman

Abstract

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.

Comments

Link to "Convicting the Innocent: Japanese American Youth at Topaz" digital exhibit: http://exhibits.usu.edu/exhibits/show/topazrelocationcenter

Link to "There Were Children on the Battleground: Japanese and Filipino Youth in the Second World War" digital exhibit: http://exhibits.lib.usu.edu/exhibits/show/therewerechildrenonthebattle

Recommended Citation

Griggs, Alyson, "Youth in World War II" (2020). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023. 1481.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1481