Transcript Korematsu vs. United States - Mr. Pourchot's History Class

Korematsu vs. United States
1944
Uriel Neis, Nirav Patel,
and Alex Tung
Period 6
Background
• Early in World War II, FDR issued Executive Order
9066 which granted the U.S. military the power
to relocate thousands of Japanese American
citizens to internment camps.
• Many Japanese Americans were forced to leave
their businesses and homes as they were
relocated to these camps for the duration of the
war.
• Fred Korematsu, a Japanese American, refused to
leave his home. He was thereby convicted by the
government for his refusal.
Plaintiff's Argument
• Fred Korematsu argued that forced
internment violated human rights and civic
liberties which were granted under the 5th and
14th Amendment.
– 5th: Life, liberty, and property
– 14th: Equal protection
Defendant’s Argument
• The U.S. military argued that some Japanese
Americans remained loyal to their ancestral
country and not to the United States.
• They claimed that separating the “disloyal from
the loyal” was impossible and that all Japanese
Americans were to be subjected to internment
camps with respect to national security.
• Under conditions of warfare, the United States
reserves the right to protect its citizens from the
possibilities of hostile engagement.
Ruling
• Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone and the court sided
with the United States, citing that the need to
protect against espionage was more important
that Korematsu’s individual's rights and that of
the Japanese American populace.
• Justice Frank Murphy dissented under the
argument that the decision fell into racism
towards minority groups and was similar to the
treatment of Americans of German and Italian
ancestry.
Significance
• This court case led to the blatant disregard of
Japanese Americans civil liberties and marred
American history through the racist ideals
associated with the case.
• The court decision was criticized by many civil
rights activists and is condemned by many
historians today.
• The military does have power to arrest citizens
in times of war.
Let’s Act It Out
•
•
•
•
Korematsu
U.S. Military Correspondent
Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone
Justice Frank Murphy