Loyal American: Fred Korematsu | BRI's Homework Help Series

Summary

Fred Korematsu, born in 1919 in Oakland, California, was a Japanese American who defied an executive order during World War II, which forced Japanese Americans into internment camps. After being convicted for resisting relocation, his case reached the Supreme Court, which upheld the internment in 1944. However, Fred's relentless fight for justice led to his conviction being overturned in 1983. His courage and persistence in challenging racial discrimination remind us that loyalty to the country isn't defined by race, ethnicity, or religion, and no one should be unjustly imprisoned due to these factors.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fred Korematsu was born in 1919 in Oakland, California to Japanese immigrants.
• 😀 After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fred attempted to support the American war effort by working as a welder.
• 😀 In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order for the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps.
• 😀 Fred Korematsu resisted the order and went into hiding rather than report to an internment camp, but was eventually arrested.
• 😀 Fred was convicted for failing to obey military orders and sentenced to probation, before being sent to the Central Utah War Relocation Center.
• 😀 While interned, Fred felt isolated and faced discrimination, even from other Japanese Americans who followed the law.
• 😀 Fred continued to fight his conviction and pursued justice through the court system, which ultimately led to his case reaching the Supreme Court.
• 😀 In 1944, the Supreme Court upheld Fred's conviction, citing the legality of Japanese American internment during times of emergency.
• 😀 Despite the court's ruling, Fred did not stop advocating for justice for Japanese Americans affected by internment.
• 😀 Fred Korematsu's conviction was finally overturned in 1983, after an in-depth investigation into his case.
• 😀 Fred's story serves as a powerful reminder that race and ethnicity should never define one's loyalty to their country, and that no one should be imprisoned because of their background.

Q & A

What event led to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II?

The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 led to the internment of Japanese Americans, as the U.S. government feared they could be loyal to Japan and act as spies or terrorists.

Who was Fred Korematsu and where was he born?

Fred Korematsu was born in 1919 in Oakland, California, to Japanese immigrant parents.

What did Fred Korematsu do in response to the internment order?

Fred Korematsu chose to resist the internment order and went into hiding rather than report to the internment camp.

What was the consequence of Fred Korematsu's defiance of the internment order?

Fred Korematsu was arrested, tried, and convicted for failing to obey military orders. He was sentenced to probation for five years.

Where was Fred Korematsu and his family sent after his arrest?

Fred Korematsu and his family were sent to the Central Utah War Relocation Center, where they lived in a converted horse stall.

How did Fred Korematsu feel about the other Japanese Americans in the internment camp?

Fred Korematsu felt isolated and discriminated against by other Japanese Americans who had complied with the internment orders to show their loyalty to the United States.

What legal action did Fred Korematsu take to challenge his conviction?

Fred Korematsu fought to have his conviction overturned in the court system, and his case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

What was the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision regarding Korematsu's case?

In 1944, the Supreme Court upheld Fred Korematsu's conviction, stating that the internment of Japanese Americans was lawful during times of emergency and peril.

How did Fred Korematsu continue his fight for justice after his conviction was upheld?

Fred Korematsu continued to pursue justice for those affected by the internment, and after an investigation in 1983, his conviction was officially overturned.

What lasting message did Fred Korematsu share about race and ethnicity?

Fred Korematsu believed that race and ethnicity should never be factors in determining someone’s loyalty to a country. He emphasized that no one should be locked away due to their race, ethnicity, or religion.