Answer
Gilding is the process of covering an object with a thin layer of gold. The Gilded Age refers to the period of rapid economic growth in the United States during the late 19th century. This period was characterized by the emergence of large corporations and monopolies, the rise of the wealthy upper class, and the exploitation of the working class. Examples of this include the rise of the railroad industry, the growth of the steel industry, and the development of the oil industry.