Cartoons

(source) Political cartoonist Tom Carlisle expresses sentiment directed towards Japanese-Americans with this cartoon from 1942.

(source) A cartoon depicting the harsh realities in March 1942.

Dr. Seuss pens many political cartoons during the World War II era.

(sources)

The collection of cartoons from various illustrators presents a consistent theme. Even though the United States was involved in a two-front war, the enemies are depicted in obviously different lenses. While the caricature of Adolf Hitler is meant to demean the Nazi leader, it pails in comparison to the highly distorted illustrations of the Japanese leader and his people. Also of note is the almost exclusive use of Executive Order 9066 to intern a group of people based on their ethnic origin. The German war machine posed a greater threat to the Allies during this time period as proven by the Europe First approach. However, it was the Japanese-Americans that were almost exclusively singled out for internment. If the greater threat to the Allies were the German led military, why were people of German heritage not singled out for internment?


DBQ.

A) Given the fact that the United States was at war with Japan, Germany, and Italy what explanation can be given for the exaggerated depictions of the political cartoons aimed at the Japanese Americans?

B) The United States government had adopted a "Europe First" strategy in the early part of 1942. With Japan being relegated as a lesser priority, why do the political cartoons contradict the realities on the ground (war)?