Final answer:
The Gilded Age was characterized by economic growth and increasing standards of living for many, but also marked by inequality and poor working conditions for the industrial class. Progressivism sought to address these issues, but often without fully involving those it intended to help. The era was a complex mix of progress and social problems, reflecting both expansion and exploitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gilded Age, a term coined by Mark Twain, symbolizes both the economic growth and the dark underside of industrial expansion in American society during the late nineteenth century. The era saw improvements in standards of living for many, boosted by a free labor system and the potential for social mobility, especially amongst the aspiring middle class.
However, the progress of the Gilded Age was not uniformly positive. While the rich enjoyed increased wealth and the middle class saw opportunities for advancement, many workers faced deplorable conditions in factories and urban areas.
Progressive movements emerged in response to the inequities of the Gilded Age, with reforms aiming to expand democracy and regulate the market economy. Yet, often Progressivism itself was led by middle-class reformers who overlooked the voices of the workers and the poor. The period was marked by a significant contrast between economic progress and persistent social problems, much like the paradox of the era's namesake - gilded with prosperity on the surface but made of baser material beneath. It was a complex time that saw both the expansion of corporate power and grassroots protests against corruption, shaping the American landscape in nuanced ways.