Final answer:
The corruption and inequalities of the Gilded Age led to the rise of muckraking to expose societal problems and instigate reform.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gilded Age's corruption and inequalities spurred muckraking's investigative journalism to expose societal issues and advocate reform. Muckraking emerged as a root cause of the extensive corruption and economic inequalities that characterized the Gilded Age. This era saw the consolidation of power among a select group of industrialists and politicians, which in turn, led to rampant graft and bribery.
As literacy rates and newspaper circulations increased, journalists began exposing scandals, helping the public to debate and understand the impact of economic policies on their lives. The muckrakers' exposés were critical in sparking the Progressive Era, highlighting the need for reform in politics, business practices, and social policies.