Purpose: Because this artifact is a political cartoon its purpose is to convince the viewer of a particular point of view on a certain issue. In this case the purpose was to convince the viewer that the internment of Japanese Americans was justified.
This cartoon shows stereotypical Japanese people in America arming themselves with TNT and “waiting for the signal” (4) from Japan to attack. The cartoon conveys the message that all Japanese Americans were fighting for the Japanese in the war, and as such should be locked in internment camps to prevent this. This cartoon is significant because it villainizes all Japanese people, including those who live in America. Japanese people are seen arming themselves with explosives to attack the U.S. This perpetuates the racist message that all Japanese people were working against the U.S., and thus justifies the U.S.’s war with Japan. Because the cartoon depicts the Japanese as aggressors it justifies the U.S.’s doings in the war. This Artifact is unique because it not only villainizes Japanese people living in Japan, but it also villainizes Japanese people living in the U.S.. This shows part of the general American perspective of the era, that all Japanese people were bad, even if they had no affiliation with Japan other than their heritage. This artifact presents the idea to the American population that all Japanese people were going to attack. This justified to the general public both the war and the racial practices of the war that took place in the U.S..
