The late 19th century witnessed the birth of modern America. It saw the closing of the Western frontier. Between 1865 and the 1890s, Americans settled 430 million acres in the Far West--more land than during the preceding 250 years of American history. But to open lands west of the Mississippi River to white settlers, the Plains Indians were pushed in a series of Indian wars onto restricted reservations.
This period also witnessed the creation of a modern industrial economy. A national transportation and communication network was created, the corporation became the dominant form of business organization, and a managerial revolution transformed business operations. By the beginning of the twentieth century, per capita income and industrial production in the United States exceeded that of any other country except Britain. Long hours and hazardous working conditions, led many workers to attempt to form labor unions despite strong opposition from industrialists and the courts.
The Gilded Age was also an era of reform. The Civil Service Act thought to curb government corruption by requiring applicants for certain governmental jobs. These years also saw the rise of the Populist crusade. Burdened by heavy debts and falling farm prices, many farmers joined the Populist party, which called for an increase in the amount of money.
(mark twain)
sources:
http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture04.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/gildedage.html
http://asp6new.alexanderstreet.com/gild/
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/gilded/jb_gilded_subj.html
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