Challenge to Democracy
ca. 1944
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This U.S. government film, created by the War Relocation Authority, documents the lifestyle of Japanese-Americans (also known as Nisei) relocated during World War II. Scenes show housing at relocation centers in Arkansas and at Heart Mountain, Wyoming; the evacuees as they attended schools; held elections (they were self-governing); and produced crops (under irrigation) at the centers. Released Nisei worked in a sugar beet field, on an Illinois farm, in a machine shop, a candy factory, etc.
Additional footage includes parts of three newsreels that focus on the Japanese-American military contribution to the war: Nisei soldiers as they ran through an obstacle course at Camp Shelby, Mississippi; General Mark Clark as he decorated the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy (RKO Pathe News); Nisei troops of the 442nd Combat Team as they rescued a "lost" battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment in France (RKO Pathe News); and as Nisei troops fired artillery in France (Movietone News).
Additional footage includes parts of three newsreels that focus on the Japanese-American military contribution to the war: Nisei soldiers as they ran through an obstacle course at Camp Shelby, Mississippi; General Mark Clark as he decorated the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy (RKO Pathe News); Nisei troops of the 442nd Combat Team as they rescued a "lost" battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment in France (RKO Pathe News); and as Nisei troops fired artillery in France (Movietone News).
This primary source comes from the Records of the War Relocation Authority.
National Archives Identifier: 39226
Full Citation: Motion Picture 210.5A; Challenge to Democracy; ca. 1944; Motion Picture Films, compiled ca. 1939 - ca. 1945; Records of the War Relocation Authority, Record Group 210. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/challenge-to-democracy, May 21, 2025]Rights: Copyright Not Evaluated Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
