Final answer:
The Gilded Age was marked by inadequate housing, harsh working conditions, and widespread poverty for the poor living in cities, leading to severe health issues, exploitation, and the need for survival through any means.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Gilded Age, life was difficult for poor city dwellers due to several factors. First and foremost, housing conditions were deplorable, with many people crammed into overcrowded tenements that lacked fresh air and sunlight. Poor sanitation compounded these conditions and led to the widespread occurrence of infectious diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis.
Secondly, working conditions were harsh; factory jobs demanded long hours with minimal pay, and safety regulations were often lacking, putting workers in danger. Lastly, the lack of sufficient wages led to poverty that forced some individuals into undesirable means of survival, such as prostitution or heavy drinking, as portrayed in the literature and art of the era.