Overview

The gilded age, which occurred after the Civil War ended, was concerned with issues such as the reform of the civil service system, the regulation of the railroads, attempts at temperance, the restriction of further immigration, tariffs and the revamping of the monetary system. The Reconstruction, which took place between 1865 and 1877, was the period of readjustment to deal with the South. Industrialization happened very rapidly with the country being transformed into a nation of large cities and many factories. The westward movement pushed into areas that were inhabited by Indians, and as the settlers moved across the country, the result was a series of Indian wars that were fought over the territorial incursions. The completion of the transcontinental railroad paved the way for a steady settlement of towns along the railroad route. The railroads replaced the horse, stagecoach and wagon train as the primary mode of transportation, and they created new markets for goods and services.