The purpose of the Gilded Age in American history was to describe a period of rapid economic growth, industrialization, and social change in the late 19th century, roughly from the 1870s to the early 1900s. Named for its superficial glitter of wealth, the term reflects both the significant technological advancements and the profound social issues that accompanied this growth, such as income inequality, corruption, and labor exploitation. The Gilded Age was marked by the rise of powerful industrialists, increased immigration, and urbanization, alongside a burgeoning labor movement advocating for workers' rights. It laid the groundwork for subsequent reforms during the Progressive Era.