Is the term "Gilded Age" an appropriate description for this time period?

The term "Gilded Age" is indeed an appropriate description for the time period in the United States roughly spanning from the 1870s to the turn of the 20th century. This term was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their book "The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today" (1873). The word "gilded" refers to something that is covered with a thin layer of gold, but it doesn't necessarily mean that what lies beneath is of the same substance or quality. As a metaphor, it provides a critical look at the era by suggesting that while the period was characterized by remarkable growth, technological innovation, and outward prosperity, it masked underlying problems such as economic disparity, political corruption, labor issues, and societal inequities.

This time period was marked by rapid industrialization, the advent of the railroad system, large-scale agricultural production, and an influx of immigrants contributing to the workforce. The United States saw a tremendous rise in wealth concentration among a small number of business leaders known as "robber barons," like John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan. However, this economic growth and opulent wealth was accompanied by exploitative labor practices, including poor working conditions, child labor, and minimal wages.

From a cultural standpoint, the Gilded Age is characterized by ornate architecture, lavish lifestyles of the elite, and a societal preoccupation with wealth and ostentation. However, for many Americans, especially immigrant workers and the urban poor, the Gilded Age was not golden but rather a time of struggle and strife, with limited social mobility and little protection from exploitation.

Thus, the term "Gilded Age" is deemed appropriate because it encapsulates the dichotomy between the thin veneer of prosperity and the many social challenges of the era.