What was meant when Mark Twain coined the period of American history from 1877 through the early 1900s as the “Gilded Age”? a A period when the U.S. shined with the glory of manifest destiny & our dominance of the West. b An era when nothing could go wrong in America; the country was heading on the right track. c A time when it appeared a thin layer of prosperity was covering the poverty & corruption that existed in society. d A period when the U.S. experienced no social & political problems; the country “shined” like a golden sun.

In 1873, Mark Twain coined the term "Gilded Age" to signify the decades that preceded the Reconstruction era. There was a great shift in the social and economical life in America during the age. The advancement in the technology, economy, and social norms presented a forged image of society. On the one hand, the economy was at its boom, while on the other hand, the discrimination, poverty, and racism saw their progression. The phrase 'Gilded Age' presents the age in real terms. The economic upliftment on the surface hid the poverty and suffering behind its glittering sheet.