Which statement best describes the role of West Coast newspapers in provoking fear of Japanese people in the 1940s? The newspapers reported rumors about Japanese Americans being spies. The newspapers reported facts about the war with Japan in the Pacific. The newspapers reported that Japanese Americans were taking over California. The newspapers reported that the US could not defend itself against Japan.

The answer is B. The newspapers reported facts about the war with Japan in the Pacific. After the attack by the Japanese Empire on Pearl Harbor, American attitudes towards people of Japanese ancestry indicated a strong sense of racism. This sentiment became further intensified by the media of the time, which played upon issues of racism on the West Coast, the social fear of the Japanese people and citizen-influenced farming conflicts with the Japanese people.