The Gilded Age is the era that followed the Civil War for the North and the West. The Gilded Age happened in the late 1800’s until around 1900, and included the Progressive Era. This time period starts after the Compromise of 1877, when the North was able to focus on themselves and not on the South anymore. It is called “gilded” because on the outside, it looks like everything is going well and everyone is prosperous, but really there were many problems facing the people. The problems that caused this time period to be “gilded” were poor working conditions, poor living conditions, and poverty. Adults and children were forced to work long days with little breaks, and often in very unsafe conditions, for very little pay. Neighborhoods were filthy,