As a result of the immigration reform legislation of the 1960s, immigration to the United States increased most rapidly from which region?

As a result of the immigration reform legislation of the 1960s, immigration to the United States increased most rapidly from which region?

• A. Eastern Europe
• B. East Asia
• C. Sub-Saharan Africa
• D. Latin America

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how a change in U.S. immigration policy in the 1960s reshaped where new arrivals came from. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act ended the old national-origin quotas that favored Europe and replaced them with a preference system that emphasized family reunification and skilled workers. This opened the door for many immigrants from regions that had been limited before, leading to rapid growth from areas outside Europe. East Asia saw the fastest increase because these new rules aligned well with existing immigrant networks and the push factors in East Asian countries, along with demand in the United States for skilled labor and for families to be reunited. Latin America did increase as well, aided by proximity and ongoing family ties, but the initial surge was strongest for East Asia due to the policy shift and the ready-made networks that could expand quickly.

The main idea is how a change in U.S. immigration policy in the 1960s reshaped where new arrivals came from. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act ended the old national-origin quotas that favored Europe and replaced them with a preference system that emphasized family reunification and skilled workers. This opened the door for many immigrants from regions that had been limited before, leading to rapid growth from areas outside Europe. East Asia saw the fastest increase because these new rules aligned well with existing immigrant networks and the push factors in East Asian countries, along with demand in the United States for skilled labor and for families to be reunited. Latin America did increase as well, aided by proximity and ongoing family ties, but the initial surge was strongest for East Asia due to the policy shift and the ready-made networks that could expand quickly.