Question

What term did Mark Twain coin as an era characterized by a facade of prosperity

Answer 1

Mark Twain coined the Gilded age as an era characterized by a facade of prosperity. This era that he war referring to was the years after the Civil War. At this time, the economy saw great strides in terms of development, growth and wealth. However, Mark Twain, along with Charles Dudley Warner, saw that this prosperity masked the consequences of the growing trade and its effects on the industrial workers. 

Behind this veil of gold and success, was corruption, stratification of the society and turmoil among workers. 

Answer 2

The term that Mark Twain coined as an era characteriezed by a facade of prosperity was gilded age. "Gilded Age" was a title of a book that he co-wrote with Charles Warner. The book is about poor people trying to get rich and their relentless pursuit of wealth. Gilded gold was a term that meant that gold was placed on top of gold over and over, as in a bar of gold.