Gilded Age America refers to the time period between the late 19th century and early 20th century (roughly 1870s-1900), characterized by rapid industrialization, economic growth, wealth disparity, and political corruption.
Related terms
Industrialization: The process of transforming an economy based on agriculture into one focused on mass production using machines in factories.
Social Darwinism: A belief system popular during this era that applied concepts of natural selection to society, justifying inequality as survival of the fittest.
Political Machines: Powerful organizations within cities that controlled political parties through corruption and provided favors in exchange for votes.