66. Which of the following describes an effect of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965?
Answer: E
It permitted increasing numbers of immigrants from southern and eastern Asia.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 significantly changed U.S. immigration policy, allowing for a substantial increase in the number of immigrants from southern and eastern Asia, thereby reshaping the demographics of immigration to the United States.
A) It established quotas on the number of immigrants allowed from the Middle East.
This statement is incorrect. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 did not establish specific quotas for immigrants from the Middle East; rather, it aimed to eliminate the national origin quotas that had previously favored Western European immigrants.
B) It contributed to a long-term decline in immigration from Latin America.
This option is also incorrect. The Act did not lead to a decline in immigration from Latin America; in fact, it opened pathways for more diverse immigration, including from Latin American countries, particularly in subsequent years.
C) It removed limitations on immigration from Canada and Mexico.
This statement is misleading. While the Act did not impose strict quotas on immigration from Canada and Mexico, it primarily focused on eliminating the national origins system and did not specifically target these countries for reduced limitations.
D) It led to an increase in the proportion of immigrants from Western Europe.
This choice is incorrect. The 1965 Act actually resulted in a decrease in the proportion of immigrants from Western Europe as it diversified immigration sources, allowing for greater numbers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America instead.
E) It permitted increasing numbers of immigrants from southern and eastern Asia.
This statement is correct, as the 1965 Act abolished the discriminatory quotas that limited immigration from southern and eastern Asia, leading to a significant increase in immigrants from these regions.
Conclusion
The correct answer is E, as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 fundamentally changed immigration patterns by removing restrictive quotas and permitting increased immigration from southern and eastern Asia. All other options fail to accurately reflect the effects of the Act, focusing instead on limitations or declines that did not occur as a result of this legislation.