"Korematsu vs.United States"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in September 1944, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of "Korematsu v. United States" (1944) by a 6-3 vote, to uphold Korematsu's conviction for violating the order to evacuate the West Coast. The author points out that the majority ruling was written by Hugo Black, Felix Frankfurter wrote a concurring opinion and dissenting opinions were written by Robert Jackson, Owen Roberts, and Frank Murphy. The paper stresses that, in this case, the Court placed a heavy burden on anyone trying to defend racial discrimination even though the Court allowed such discrimination against Fred Korematsu. The author argues that, nonetheless, the Court should have protected Korematsu's constitutional rights.

From the Paper:

"Fred Korematsu was an American citizen of Japanese ancestry and lived in the San Francisco Bay area. He had a good job and a steady girlfriend, and he decided not to obey the relocation order. He went so far as to have plastic surgery performed on his face, and he told strangers that he was of Mexican descent, or Spanish-Hawaiian. This was not an effective ploy, though, and Korematsu was arrested in May 1942 for failing to comply with the evacuation order."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Korematsu v. United States: The U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Internment." History Matters (2007). June 17, 2007. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5151/.

More papers on "Korematsu vs.United States":

• Essay # 137932 : "Schenck vs United States"
• Argumentative Essay # 149273 : "Toyosaburo Korematsu v. United States" Advocacy Brief"
• Persuasive Essay # 110729 : "The Right to a Fair Trial"

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