Korematsu V. United States

During WWII many Americans felt that the Japanese might attack the
West Coast of the United States. While today we realize that that was
unlikely, it was a reasonable fear. As a result of that fear the
United States excluded all those of Japanese ancestry from living on
the west coast over a hundred thousand people were included. Over
seventy thousand were imprisoned in concentration camps. Fred
Korematsu, a Japanese American forced to move to one of these camps,
challenged the government. Did the government have the right and the
power to do away with due process in time of war? We shall see.

I. World War II – The Internment of Japanese Americans

A. How were Japanese Americans treated during World
War II?

1. Considered a threat to national security.

2. Excluded from West Coast.

3. 120,000 placed in Camps – 70,000 were US citizens.

4. The government was not aware of any of the imprisoned actually
being spys.

In accordance with
executive order issued by the President of the United States and
passed by Congress and in order to maintain national security the
government of the United States hereby issues the following:

1) Any
Japanese Nationals (citizens) are hereby excluded (not allowed) from
the following states: California, Oregon, Washington.

2) Japanese Americans
shall be excluded from the same states.

3) The aforementioned
shall be transported to Interment Camps where they shall remain for
the duration of the conflict.

This action has been taken
to protect the West Coast of the United States from attack and acts
of sabotage perpetrated by any agents of the Empire of Japan.

B. What was the result of the challenge –
Korematsu v United States

1. Court upheld law, ruled there was a legitimate
danger to national security (clear and present danger).

2. 20 years later Japanese Americans win a partial compensation as
Congress officially apologizes.