The Victorian Era in America is often referred to as the “Gilded Age.” This term, coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their 1873 novel, describes the period from the 1870s to about 1900.
The Gilded Age was characterized by rapid economic growth, especially in the Northeastern United States, and it was marked by the expansion of industry, railroads, and urbanization. While the era was marked by significant wealth and progress, there were also darker aspects, including corruption, social inequality, and labor strife, which are often overshadowed by the opulence of the time.
In many ways, the Gilded Age mirrored the social and cultural trends of the Victorian Era in Britain, encompassing similar values around morality, domesticity, and family life. However, the unique American context of this period—and the dramatic changes taking place in its society—led to a distinct character for the era here.