What is your understanding of the term “Gilded Age”?

Answer 1

The Gilded Age generally refers to the period in American history following the Civil War until the early 20th century, roughly spanning from the 1870s to around 1900. Coined by American author Mark Twain, it signifies a time of significant economic growth and rapid industrialization, accompanied by widespread corruption, social inequality, and ostentatious displays of wealth. The term "gilded" suggests a thin layer of gold covering base materials, indicating the façade of prosperity and progress masking underlying problems within society, such as political corruption, labor unrest, and the wealth gap between the wealthy elite and the working class.