Final answer:
Corruption during the Gilded Age was rooted in the era's rapid industrial growth, with political graft and bribery entrenched in a system where political and business interests were closely interlinked. Politicians commonly justified corruption as necessary, and the term 'Gilded Age', as labeled by Mark Twain, reflects this deceptive prosperity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Corruption During the Gilded Age
Corruption existed during the Gilded Age for a variety of reasons interconnected with the era's rapid industrialization and economic expansion. Mark Twain coined the term 'Gilded Age' to describe the time period's superficial glimmer which masked underlying issues of greed and dishonesty among industry leaders and politicians.
During this time, America witnessed a consolidation of power in the hands of a few industrialists and politicians. Politicians often engaged in graft and bribery, viewing corruption as an unavoidable part of successful governance.
The political scene was dominated by political machines like Tammany Hall in New York, which epitomized the era's corrupt practices by exchanging jobs and services for votes. The rampant corruption was facilitated by a political system heavily influenced by business interests and a Congress focused on political patronage.
The Founders of the United States were aware of the dangers of corruption, which historically tended to occur with the centralization of power.
Despite their concerns, corruption persisted into the post-Civil War era, characterized federally by ineffective leadership and locally by political bosses and their machines maintaining control through systematic corruption.
The increase in journalism and literacy brought more public awareness to these issues, allowing citizens to question and discuss the impact of governmental policies on their daily lives.
Consequently, many Americans realized that solutions would not come from Washington, D.C., but rather from their local leaders, thus continuing the cycle of federally ineffectual governance and machine politics.
The grassroots reform movements aimed at addressing these issues eventually led to the Progressive Era and the mitigation of some of the corrupt practices.