Which of these best explains why the 1924 Immigration Act
favored immigrants from northern and western Europe?
(1 point)
The act required all immigrants to be fluent in English.
The act required all immigrants to be Protestants.
The act used the 1890 census to determine national
quotas.
The act used the 1920 census to determine national
quotas.
The act used the 1890 census to determine national quotas.
The correct answer is: The act used the 1890 census to determine national quotas.
To determine why the 1924 Immigration Act favored immigrants from northern and western Europe, we have to examine the options given:
1. The act required all immigrants to be fluent in English.
2. The act required all immigrants to be Protestants.
3. The act used the 1890 census to determine national quotas.
4. The act used the 1920 census to determine national quotas.
Option 1 and 2 are not correct explanations because the 1924 Immigration Act did not require immigrants to be fluent in English or to be Protestants. These options can be ruled out.
Options 3 and 4 refer to the use of census data to determine national quotas. The correct answer is option 3, "The act used the 1890 census to determine national quotas." This is because the 1924 Immigration Act used the national origins quota system, which placed restrictions on the number of immigrants allowed from each country based on the percentage of people of that nationality living in the United States according to the 1890 census. This system heavily favored immigrants from northern and western Europe, as there were larger populations of people from those regions in the United States at the time of the 1890 census.