Final answer:
Mark Twain referred to the period from 1860-1900 as the Gilded Age to depict the superficial glitter and corruption that lay beneath the surface of American society during that time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mark Twain referred to the period from 1860-1900 as the Gilded Age to depict the superficial glitter and corruption that lay beneath the surface of American society during that time. This term symbolized the stark contrast between the ostentatious wealth of the upper class and the widespread poverty, social inequality, and political corruption endured by the working class and minorities.
The name 'gilded' is derived from the idea that the age appeared golden and prosperous on the surface, but beneath it, there were severe socio-economic problems. Twain's novel, The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, co-authored with Charles Dudley Warner, further exemplified the era's underlying issues, such as industrialization, urbanization, political scandals, and the widening gap between the wealthy and the impoverished.
An example of this contrast can be seen in the lavish lifestyles of the 'robber barons,' industrialists who amassed enormous fortunes while exploiting their workers, as opposed to the hardships faced by immigrants, factory workers, and farmers during this time period. Twain's use of the term 'Gilded Age' therefore accurately depicted the realities of an era that appeared prosperous but was marred by corruption, inequality, and the struggles of the lower classes.
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