Girouard v. United States
Encyclopedia
Girouard v. United States, , was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States
. It concerned a pacifist
applicant for naturalization
who in the interview declared not to be willing to fight for the defense of the United States
. The case questioned a precedent set by United States v. Schwimmer
in 1929 that denied an applicant entry to the United States because of her pacifist stance. Girouard v. United States overturned that precedent by voting in favor of Girouard's religious freedom through allowing him to uphold his Seventh-day Adventist
beliefs.
who applied to become an American citizen
. When asked if he would fight for the U.S., he responded "No, I am a Seventh-day Adventist." Girouard stated that he believed in the democratic ideal, but asserted that he was an uncompromising pacifist. The response was similar to Rosika Schwimmer
's (United States v. Schwimmer
) who said, "My cosmic consciousness of belonging to the human family is shared by all those who believe that all human beings are the children of God."
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. It concerned a pacifist
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
applicant for naturalization
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
who in the interview declared not to be willing to fight for the defense of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The case questioned a precedent set by United States v. Schwimmer
United States v. Schwimmer
United States v. Schwimmer, 279 U.S. 644 , was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States.It concerned a pacifist applicant for naturalization who in the interview declared not to be willing to "take up arms personally" in defense of the United States...
in 1929 that denied an applicant entry to the United States because of her pacifist stance. Girouard v. United States overturned that precedent by voting in favor of Girouard's religious freedom through allowing him to uphold his Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
beliefs.
Details
James Girouard was a Canadian citizenCanadian nationality law
Canadian citizenship is typically obtained by birth in Canada, birth abroad when at least one parent is a Canadian citizen and was born or naturalized in Canada, or by adoption abroad by at least one Canadian citizen. It can also be granted to a permanent resident who lives in Canada for three out...
who applied to become an American citizen
Citizenship in the United States
Citizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
. When asked if he would fight for the U.S., he responded "No, I am a Seventh-day Adventist." Girouard stated that he believed in the democratic ideal, but asserted that he was an uncompromising pacifist. The response was similar to Rosika Schwimmer
Rosika Schwimmer
Rosika Schwimmer or Bédy-Schwimmer "Rózsa" Rózsika was a Hungarian-born pacifist, feminist and female suffragist.Rosika Schwimmer was born on September 11, 1877 to a Jewish family in Budapest in Austria-Hungary...
's (United States v. Schwimmer
United States v. Schwimmer
United States v. Schwimmer, 279 U.S. 644 , was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States.It concerned a pacifist applicant for naturalization who in the interview declared not to be willing to "take up arms personally" in defense of the United States...
) who said, "My cosmic consciousness of belonging to the human family is shared by all those who believe that all human beings are the children of God."