Final answer:
The Chinese were not part of the early immigration period to the United States; they faced significant immigration restrictions in the 19th century, highlighted by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group not part of the early immigration period to the United States as stated within the question is the Chinese. The French, English, and Spanish were among the early European colonists and immigrants in what would become the United States. Yet, the Chinese did not immigrate in significant numbers until the 19th century, particularly during the California Gold Rush. Notably, in the early twentieth century, certain immigration policies such as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act explicitly barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States. This act represented escalating discrimination and xenophobia, driven by fears that Chinese workers were taking jobs from local populations, and placed significant restrictions on Asian immigration more broadly.