Final answer:
Newer immigrant groups from southern and eastern Europe faced widespread hostility in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as nativist groups and political lobbyists agitated for restrictive immigration policies to preserve America's cultural and socioeconomic integrity, fueling systemic discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the turn of the century, anti-immigrant sentiment grew in the United States as newer immigrant groups from southern and eastern Europe were seen as endangering the fabric of American society. Influential figures like the Reverend Josiah Strong argued that these immigrants posed a threat to the nation's moral fiber, an idea that fueled discrimination and led to the formation of organizations like the American Protective Association. The hostility and scapegoating towards immigrants who were predominantly non-white, non-Protestants, Jews, or Catholics manifested in restrictive policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, the National Origins Act, and proposals for literacy tests. Nativist groups and political lobbyists believed these measures were necessary to maintain the cultural and socioeconomic integrity of the nation, but they resulted in systemic discrimination and racism, further entrenching societal divisions.