Question

what characterized u.s. immigration policies prior to the 1965 immigration act?
they were completely unlimited, causing problems with neighboring countries.
they favored european immigrants, discriminating against everyone else.
they only allowed in people who were already wealthy, to the dismay of factory owners.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• The first option claims policies were "completely unlimited" and caused issues with neighbors. However, pre - 1965 U.S. immigration policies (like the National Origins Formula) had quotas, so this is incorrect.
• The second option states policies favored European immigrants and discriminated against others. Pre - 1965 policies, such as the quota system based on national origins, heavily favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe, while limiting or discriminating against immigrants from other regions (like Asia, Southern/Eastern Europe in earlier quotas, and non - European areas). This aligns with historical facts.
• The third option says only wealthy people were allowed, which is not accurate. Pre - 1965 policies were more about national origin quotas than wealth - based restrictions.

Answer:

B. They favored European immigrants, discriminating against everyone else.