Most people of which nationality were barred from immigration into the United States during the 60-year period that started in 1882?

The restriction on immigration from certain nationalities was influenced by a combination of social, economic, and political factors, particularly during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. People of Chinese nationality faced a wide range of discriminatory laws and attitudes, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which effectively halted Chinese immigration to the United States for a significant period. This act was motivated by fears of economic competition and racial prejudice, making Chinese immigrants the first national group to be specifically and broadly excluded from entering the country.

This exclusion persisted for several decades, with further legislation reinforcing these restrictions, such as the Geary Act in 1892, which extended the exclusion for ten more years, and the Immigration Act of 1924, which established quotas that discriminated against Asian immigrants, including the Chinese. As a result, Chinese nationals experienced significant barriers to immigration during this 60-year period, making this group distinct in terms of immigration policy in the United States.

Other nationalities, while they faced various challenges and discrimination, did not experience the same level of formalized, sustained exclusion from immigration that the Chinese did during this timeframe.