1) What did Mark Twain mean when he referred to the late 1800s as the Gilded Age? What other periods of American history could also be referred to as a gilded age? Why? Provide at least one reference,...

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Title: Academic Writing
Contents
1.    Great Depression    3
2.    Glided Age    3
3.    Progressive Age    4
4.    World War 1    6
Work Cited    7
1. Great Depression
    Great Depression was characterised by huge economic crisis that took place in the year of 1930 I America. Before entering into that stage of economic crisis, there was rapid economic development of America (Irwin). With industrialization the economy of America went uphill and led to the up-gradation of the standards of living. But one Thursday, the stock market crashed heavily and had adverse effects on the economy of America. In the year 2008, the recession caused was similar to that of the great depression as it was preceded by unsustainable credit boom. But in the recent times, the banking system has become much more cautious in order to handle grave economic crisis. There are bank failures and unemployment in the recent times as well but they are not in the dire line as it was during the Great Depression. Unlike the historical event, the Government of the United States act in every possible way in order to tackle any deflation that rises in the economy. In order to tackle the Great Depression, varied policies were framed so as to create opportunities for employment, provide insurance the unemployed and so on. These policies can be utilised in the recent times in order to cope up with the unemployment that exists in the US economy.
2. Glided Age
    The Glided Era is one of the prominent ages of the American history that started in the year of 1865 and lasted till 1898. It was a period which was focussed on the economic development of America that resulted in intense industrialization. Mark Twain was an American writer and he had published his writing named the ‘Gilded Age’ in the year of 1873. In his novel, Mark Twain paints the social picture of Washington DC in the Gilded age. As per the views of the writer (Kendall), the society in that era was filled with greedy industrialists and politicians who were corrupt. Individuals in the society lived under the misconception that everything was gilded with valuables. Mark Twain, in his satire, tells the audience that during the period, the industrial activities accelerated and there was huge economic growth. The corporate sector flourished and the industrialists were considered to be the leaders of the economy. The entrepreneurs were also called as ‘robber barrons’ as they subjected the workers to inhuman working conditions and did not provide them with their due wages. The industrialists carried out their monopoly and their main source of income was from the petroleum, transport and steel organisations. The businessmen had acquired immense power in the society due to the wealth they possessed and corruption reigned in the government due to the dishonest politicians.
    The characteristics of the Gilded...