Question

question 7 of 10

one effect of the immigration and nationality act was that:

a. it was more difficult for the government to deport immigrants who supported communism.
b. it was more difficult for the government to reject immigration requests on the basis of race and ethnicity.
c. it was easier for immigrants from western and northern europe to come to the united states than immigrants from other countries.
d. it was easier for refugees from all countries to come to the united states to live.

Explanation:

Identify the core legislation

The question asks about the effects of the Immigration and Nationality Act (specifically the landmark 1965 Hart-Celler Act, which is commonly referred to by this name in high school US history curricula).

Analyze the historical impact of the 1965 Act

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 fundamentally changed American immigration policy by abolishing the National Origins Formula, which had been in place since the 1920s. The old quota system heavily favored immigrants from Western and Northern Europe while severely restricting those from Asia, Africa, and Southern/Eastern Europe.

Evaluate the given options

• A is incorrect: The act did not make it harder to deport communist-supporting immigrants; Cold War security measures remained strict.
• B is correct: By abolishing the national origins quota system, the act established a new policy based on reuniting immigrant families and attracting skilled labor, making it far more difficult to reject applicants based solely on national origin, race, or ethnicity.
• C is incorrect: This describes the previous quota system (established by the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924), which the 1965 Act dismantled.
• D is incorrect: While the act did create pathways for refugees, it did not make it universally "easier for refugees from all countries" without limits or preference categories.

Answer:

• A. it was more difficult for the government to deport immigrants who supported communism.
• B. it was more difficult for the government to reject immigration requests on the basis of race and ethnicity. (Correct answer)
• C. it was easier for immigrants from Western and Northern Europe to come to the United States than immigrants from other countries.
• D. it was easier for refugees from all countries to come to the United States to live.