Final answer:
During the Gilded Age, immigration had a profound impact on America's economy by providing labor for industries, on politics by triggering nativism and changing political dynamics, and on religion by increasing religious diversity and leading to cultural tensions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gilded Age was marked by significant economic, political, and social changes due to massive levels of immigration. Economically, the United States saw a 70% increase in industrial output post-Civil War, largely fueled by the influx of immigrants who provided labor in various sectors, including the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Immigrants also frequently took low-wage, unskilled jobs which increased competition in the workforce and drove wages down.
Politically, the arrival of new immigrant groups, particularly from southern and eastern Europe, altered the American political landscape and triggered nativism and anti-immigrant sentiments among some segments of the population. This was evident in the backlash against immigrants in urban legends, scapegoating, and the segregation of neighborhoods which challenged the idea of a multicultural 'composite nation.'
Spiritually, the arrival of immigrants with diverse religious practices, particularly Roman Catholics from Ireland and Germany, led to significant growth in the nation's religious demographics. This influx challenged the prevailing Protestant hegemony, contributing to cultural diversity but also fostering religious tensions and a defense of religious values among certain groups of Americans.