By Dezeng Pang

Walton High School

E-mail: Dzpang@hotmail.com

On December 7th, 1941, Japanese planes bombed the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in the Hawaiian Islands and destroyed most of the U.S. Pacific fleet. In a few days America was at war with Japan and her allies, Germany and Italy. The lives of most people with German and Italian backgrounds who lived in America did not change much because of the war. But, Japanese Americans were not so lucky. Racism against the Japanese had a long history in the U.S. The Issei, those born in Japan but living in The U.S., were not allowed to own land. Nor were they ever permitted to become American citizens, no matter how long they lived here. They, and their American-born children, called Nisei, were stoned in the streets. Many restaurants refused to serve them, barbers would not cut their hair, homeowners would not sell or rent to them. When the war started, Japanese were said to be helping the enemies. , nearly all 120,000 Japanese living on the West Coast spent the war years locked up behind barbed wire and under armed guard. Two thirds of them were American citizens. It was not until 46 years later after the camps had opened that each person from the camps got a letter of apology from the president and $20.000, but half of the original 120,000 had already died.

Ø Your task is to decide whether the government was correct in restricting the civil rights of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Ø You will take a position on the issue.

Ø You will read the case Korematsu v. U.S.

Ø You will write a brief explaining the facts of the case.

Ø You will analyze the facts of the case using the CompuLegal System

Ø You will research cases, which set a precedent for this case.

Ø You will examine the arguments of the case.

Ø Your group will write a report for an oral presentation defending your position.

1. The class will be divided into 3 groups: one group of students will act as Supreme Court justices, the second one will represent Korematsu who thinks it is unconstitutional to be forced to leave his home and the third one will represent the government. To support your arguments, you have to review some Supreme Court cases. The cases can be examined through the CompuLegal system. This system will help you review the cases step by step.

2. You will search through the resources below to gain additional knowledge about the topic.

3. Two groups will write the reports in which there should be strong legal reasons to support your opinions. Then present your case in front of the “Supreme Court”.

4. The “Supreme Court” group should discuss and reach an agreement, and write the ruling based on a legal basis. After this, you will read your decision to the class.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/scales/korematsu.html

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.table.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/index.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/dcales/instruct1.html

http://bss.sfsu.edu/internment/Congressional%20Records/19880420b.html

Students will be evaluated based on the following criteria: effort, group work, presentation and written work.

Excellent

1. Student shows a complete understanding of the research topic.

2. Student provides facts and opinions with supporting details.

3. Student shows the ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply critical thinking skills to information.

4. Student participates in group process.

5. Student submits complete written project.

Good

1. Student shows a satisfactory understanding of the research topic.

2. Student provides facts and opinions with supporting details.

3. Student shows the ability to analyze and evaluate information.

4. Student participates in group process.

5. Student submits written work.

Need Improvement

1. Student shows a minimal understanding of the research topic.

2. Student provides minimal facts and opinions.

3. Student shows the poor ability to analyze and evaluate information.

4. Student has difficulty participating in group process.

5. Student submits incomplete written project.

Upon the completion of this WebQuest, you have used CompuLegal to search some legal issues and reviewed some cases involved in civil rights. Then, you have used the information to analyze the case Korematsu v. U.S. in your group. Then you have written reports and presented them to the lass. Now you can utilize technological research and critical thinking skills you have acquired during this process. You may further explore this issue or other issues that interest you.