Gilded Age

The Gilded Age is a period in United States history that occurred from the 1870s to the late 1890s, between the Reconstruction Era and the Progressive Era. Here are some key points about the Gilded Age:

• The term “Gilded Age” was coined by Mark Twain in his 1873 novel “The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today” to describe this era of rapid economic growth and materialistic excesses combined with political corruption.

• This era was marked by significant industrialization and technological advances.

• It was a time of rapid economic growth, especially in the Northern and Western United States.

• As American wages grew much higher than those in Europe, especially for skilled workers, the period saw an influx of millions of European immigrants.

• The rapid expansion of industrialization led to real wage growth of 40% from 1860 to 1890 and spread across the increasing labor force.

• However, the Gilded Age was also an era of poverty, especially in the South, and growing inequality.

• Railroads were the major growth industry, with the factory system, mining, and finance increasing in importance.

• Two major nationwide depressions—the Panic of 1873 and the Panic of 1893—interrupted growth and caused social and political upheavals.

This period of American history had a profound impact on the nation and continues to influence it today.