Twenty years after World War I, humanity was, once again, plagued by greater hostility. September 1, 1939 marked the start of World War II, this time with new players on the board. Waves of fear and paranoia have swept across the United States, shaking the very foundations of freedom and justice for all. The waves hit forcefully on a single ethnic group, the Japanese Americans, whose rights and respect were taken away. They were seen as traitors and enemies in their own country and were therefore thrown into prison camps. This event marks one of the absolute low points in US history and changed the course of the country as a whole. World War II broke out in Europe on September 1, 1939, when Germany, led by Hitler, declared war on Poland. Together, Germany, Japan and Italy were the three main countries that formed the Axis powers, which fought against the Allies. The allies consisted of Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States. The Axis powers and the Allies fought against each other by land, sea, and air, creating the largest and bloodiest war in all of history, with a total death toll of between 40 and 50 million people. Initially the United States tried to remain neutral. The majority of the public had an isolationist attitude. Many citizens tried to dissuade Congress from providing aid and supplies to Britain and France, but attitudes quickly changed when a surprise attack occurred directly on American soil. On December 7, 1941, approximately 26 months after the war began; the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked a fleet of U.S. Navy ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Material damage included 21 ships, 8 of which were well-equipped battleships, and 350... half of the paper... refers directly to the camps, the root of all their problems began with the prejudices they faced. When they first learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of the internees, especially Issei, began destroying all possessions they owned that connected them to Japan, even if they were precious family heirlooms. They purchased war bonds and joined the Red Cross and the army. One particular army division was made up entirely of Nisei soldiers who fought bravely in Europe. The 442nd Regiment became the most “decorated” Army unit for earning so many awards and medals of honor. They helped convince those who previously suspected them that Japanese Americans can be patriotic. President Harry Truman also praised them when he awarded them the Distinguished Unit Citation in 1946: “You have not only fought the enemy, but you have fought prejudice and you have won” (President Harry Truman).