What controversial practice did the U.S. undertake during WWII to protect itself?

The internment of Japanese and Italian citizens during World War II represents a significant and controversial practice by the United States aimed at national security. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, there was a widespread fear that Japanese Americans might aid the Japanese government in wartime efforts. This led to the U.S. government forcibly relocating and internment of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens.

The justification given for this action was the perceived threat to national security, despite the lack of evidence indicating any disloyalty among Japanese Americans. It is considered a violation of civil liberties and has since been condemned as a gross injustice. The U.S. government later acknowledged the wrongness of this decision, with reparations granted in the 1980s to some survivors.

This event stands out as a troubling instance in American history, reflecting how fear can lead to prejudice and the infringement of rights, and it provoked ongoing discussions about liberty and security that resonate to this day.