The Gilded Age

The Gilded Age, spanning roughly from 1870 to 1900, was a period of rapid economic growth, industrialization, and technological innovation in the United States. While the era brought prosperity and expanded wealth, especially for industrialists and financiers, it also highlighted stark social inequalities, political corruption, and exploitative labor practices. Wealth was often concentrated in the hands of a few, fostering a facade of prosperity that masked underlying social issues. The era set the stage for important reforms and regulatory efforts to address these disparities as the nation continued to grow economically and socially.