Final answer:
The correct answer reflects the diverse waves of immigration to the U.S., which included Europeans, Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans, with the earliest arrivals from Western Europe followed by Northern, then Eastern Europe, and later significant numbers from Latin America and Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The waves of immigration to the United States included a diverse array of peoples, and option A) A wave of Europeans, Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans is the closest to the historical narrative. The largest groups initially came from Western Europe, followed by Northern Europe and eventually Eastern Europe. There were also significant waves of immigration from Latin America and Asia, as well as the forced arrival of Africans through the transatlantic slave trade. These groups often faced periods of disenfranchisement and struggled for social mobility within a society that eventually became multicultural, multiethnic, and multiracial.
The first significant influx of immigrants in the 19th century and early 20th century was comprised of northern and western Europeans, with later waves from southern and eastern Europe. The composition of immigrants shifted over time, with increasing numbers from Latin America, particularly Mexico, and from various countries in Asia. This diversification of immigrant origins continued into the 21st century, reshaping the American demographic landscape significantly.