Final answer:
Nativism is the hostility and prejudice towards new immigrants (option C), which negatively impacted them through discriminatory policies and restrictions on immigration, particularly in the 1920s with acts such as the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nativism is defined as a policy or belief that protects or favors the interests of the native-born or established inhabitants against those of immigrants. The correct option that explains nativism is option C) Nativism is the hostility and prejudice towards new immigrants, which created a hostile environment for immigrants who were often seen as threats to societal norms and economic stability. Nativists were known to harbor deep prejudices against new waves of immigrants coming to the United States, particularly those from Central and Southern Europe who were nonwhites, non-Protestants, or Jews. This sentiment adversely affected new immigrants by leading to discriminatory policies, such as literacy tests and restrictive quotas, which aimed to curb immigration and maintain a certain demographic status quo. In the 1920s, nativism had a significant influence on American immigration policy. Acts like the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924 were influenced by nativist pressures and effectively limited the amount and origins of immigrants coming into the country. These policies reflected the fears and prejudices of the time, making it difficult for new immigrants to enter the United States and assimilate into society.