Final answer:
Nativists in California would likely have argued for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act as a means to limit Chinese immigration and protect American workers.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this case, nativists in California most likely would have argued for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act (option C).
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a federal law signed in 1882 that restricted Chinese immigration to the United States. It was primarily supported by nativist groups who believed that Chinese immigrants were taking jobs away from American workers and threatening their economic and cultural interests.
By passing this act, nativists sought to limit the number of Chinese immigrants entering the country and to maintain a more homogeneous population.
Learn more about Chinese Exclusion Act