Final answer:
Political corruption was the primary cause of civil service reform in the Gilded Age.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil service reform in the Gilded Age was largely the result of political corruption. During this time, there was widespread corruption in government as politicians used the spoils system to reward their supporters with government jobs and favors. This led to inefficiency and abuse of power, causing frustration among the public.
In response to this, reformers pushed for civil service reform, which aimed to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system. The Pendleton Act of 1883 was a significant step in this direction, establishing the Civil Service Commission and introducing competitive examinations as a means of selecting government employees based on merit.
While other factors such as labor movements, industrialization, and progressive reform played a role in shaping the Gilded Age, political corruption was the primary catalyst for civil service reform during this era.