Final answer:
The immigration quota laws of 1924 decreased immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Immigration Act of 1924 significantly restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe by implementing strict national origin quotas. This legislation aimed to reduce the influx of immigrants from these regions, favoring immigrants from Western and Northern European countries. The act established a quota system based on the national origin of the existing population in the United States in 1890, significantly reducing the number of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, where a large number of newcomers originated.
Consequently, this law had a profound impact, sharply reducing immigration from these regions and favoring immigration from countries with larger populations already established in the U.S. The quotas remained in effect for decades, influencing the demographic composition of immigration to the United States until subsequent reforms in the mid-20th century.
The correct answer is: C. Decreased immigration from southern and eastern Europe.