Korematsu v. United States October 11, 12, 1944

By: Cyndavia Mckoy

After Pearl Harbor was bombed in December, the military worried that the Japanese would attack the U.S mainland.

President F.D.R signed an order forcing ALL of the Japanese and Japanese Americans on the west coast into internment camps.

One Japanese American moved and claimed to be a Mexican-American, attempting to avoid the camp.

Facts of the case

Later Fred Korematsu was convicted and arrested because he violated an order.

He felt that he was being discriminated against because of his race.

Facts of the Case (cont.)

The issue is that Korematsu is being discriminated against and that the government isn’t treating him fairly in this situation, which goes against what the 5th amendment states.

Constitutional Issue

In a divided 6–3 decision, Korematsu’s conviction in late 1944 was upheld.

What was the Supreme Court’s ruling?

Mr. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the court.

The opinion basically states that doing what is best for the U.S and military comes first.

“The successful prosecution of the war requires every possible protection against sabotage to national-defense material, national-defense premises, and national-defense utilities ."

Majority Opinion

Yes, there is a dissenting opinion and Mr. Justice Murphy wrote it.

He feels as if the situation wasn’t justified. Murphy also said “racial discrimination in

any form and in any degree has no justifiable part whatever in our democratic way of life.”

He thinks that all people of this nation are kin in some way.

Dissenting Opinion

It enforces that one race shouldn’t be discriminated against if they are citizens.

They have the same rights as every other person in America.

Is this case a “landmark” Supreme Court decision?

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