The Gilded Age was characterized by a number of factors, including:
* The rise of big business and the consolidation of industry
* The growth of cities and the influx of immigrants
* The expansion of the railroad network
* The development of new technologies, such as the telegraph, telephone, and electric light
* The rise of political machines and the increasing power of money in politics
The Gilded Age was also a time of great inequality, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. This inequality led to a number of social problems, such as poverty, crime, and labor unrest.
The Gilded Age ended with the Panic of 1893, which led to a severe economic depression. The depression lasted for several years and caused widespread unemployment and hardship. The depression also led to a number of political reforms, such as the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Interstate Commerce Act, which were designed to regulate big business and protect consumers.
The Gilded Age was a time of great change and upheaval, and it left a lasting legacy on American society. The era's economic growth and industrialization laid the foundation for the United States to become a global superpower, but the inequality and corruption of the era also led to a number of social problems that continue to affect American society today.