The “Eastward Pioneers” article by Allan W. Austin focuses on the aftermath of the internment of Japanese Americans. Giving examples of responses from Nikkei on the subject of war and incarceration, the author’s purpose is to show that the resettlement of Japanese Americans was mostly positive for those it affected. Austin argues that the resettlement was supposed to be the solution to the entire problem, and that scattering those of Japanese descent throughout the nation would help them adapt to a better life than the ones they had before the war. The author talks about the goal of having Japanese Americans become fully assimilated to the community they live in gives examples of organizations that were formed to help with the transition. Statements from Nikkei are located throughout the article telling of good experiences and lives well lived because of the resettlement.…show more content… The author informs the reader about DeWitt and his influence on America during this time, along with the attitudes of white Americans towards Americans of Japanese ancestry. Sundquist also covers the question of Japanese American’s loyalty to America and says that most Japanese Americans considered a risk were already imprisoned and that loyalty could have been tested with each person instead of generalizing all Japanese Americans. He goes on to talk about loyalty screenings and the separating of the imprisoned American’s based on their answers. Scattered through the article is information about life in the camps and information about whether they were considered concentration camps or not. In the end, Sundquist says that it is hard to judge the evidence but the motivations at the time did not excuse the act and a debt is owed to those who experienced the
