In terms of racial politics, how does Act XVI expand upon Act XII? A) It broadens the definitions of miscegenation and increases the punishment. B) It proposes a legal distinction between English people and other white people. C) It creates a legal hierarchy for blacks, Native Americans, and people of mixed race. D) It suggests that prior laws were effective in reducing mixed-race births in Virginia

A)It broadens the definitions of miscegenation and increases punishment.  

Explanation:

Act XVI expands upon Act XII in that it broadens the definitions of miscegenation and increases the punishment. The earlier act only deals with black people, while the later act includes Native Americans and mixed-race people. At the same time, Act XVI introduces banishment as the penalty for intermarriage, whereas prior legislation only dealt with fines