After 1871, immigrants chiefly came from which regions?

• A. Southern Europe (Italy), Eastern Europe (Hungary), Asia (China)
• B. Northern Europe (Germany), Western Europe (Britain), Africa
• C. South America, Canada, Australia
• D. Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing where most new immigrants to the United States came from after 1871. During this period, the U.S. drew large numbers of newcomers from Southern Europe (notably Italy), Eastern Europe (such as Hungary and other parts of the region), and parts of Asia (notably China). This shift reflects the push of economic hardship, famine, and political unrest in those regions combined with the pull of rapid industrial growth and job opportunities in American cities and on expanding railroads.

Why this is the best fit: Italy, Hungary, and China were among the most significant sources of new arrivals in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marking a change from earlier immigration patterns that were heavier from Northern and Western Europe. The other options don’t match the actual sources of the late-1800s surge—the listed regions either represent earlier waves, or describe destinations rather than origins, or include areas (like Africa) that contributed comparatively fewer immigrants to the United States at the time.