The Gilded Age of the late 19 th century was a time of rampant political, cultural, social, and economic transformation. Is America facing another Gilded Age today in the 21 st century? Introduction The gilded age is a phrase which refers to a period between the 1870s and 1890s. This era was characterized by unparalleled technological innovation and economic development. The end of the 19 th century was instrumental in the history of the US. It is remembered as a period of expansion and progress. However, it disregards the devastation inflicted on the nation by the civil war. It was a controversial period characterized by social struggles between the wealthy and the poor. In a nut-shell, this was a struggle for the acquisition of property and power. The term gilding refers to a method of covering the surface of wood or metal with a thin layer of gold, this was done to enhance the appearance of the object. Some scholars have argued that America may be going through another Gilded Age in the 21 st century. This essay will assess and investigate these claims. The Gilded Age, which is synonymous with the late 1870s to the 1890s, has replicated itself in America during the 21 st century. Comparison of the Gilded Age of the 19 th century to the 21 st century The end of the 19 th century exhibited a rapid growth of industrial development. Through this expansion, the current industrial economy was born. This industrial economy paved the way for the dominance propagated by the large corporations. Currently in the 21 st century, it is the rapid development and innovation in the ICT sector that has fueled the growth of the American economy. In this modern era, development and progress made on internet services have propelled the US economy, and established a firm service-based economy. Additionally, due to various reasons in the past decade, the US economy and business sectors have seen several companies merging or acquiring other ventures. These mergers and acquisitions have resulted in the formation of the largest corporations in the world (“Are We Living in a New Gilded Age?” par. 2). During the Gilded Age, the rich acquired more wealth while the poor continued to languish in poverty. With the growth of industrialization, wealth also expanded. Entrepreneurs like John Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie accumulated vast wealth while the rest of the population languished in the slums and broke their sweat in factories owned by the “robber barons”. As the affluent in society continued to accumulate vast quantities of wealth, the society experienced tremendous demonstrations of opulence. A good example is the Biltmore estate. It is arguably the biggest private residence in the US. However, during the 19 th century the middle class was relatively small. On the other hand, the 19 th century had its own fair share of significant occurrences such as the demonstration of philanthropy by Andrew Carnegie. Andrew during his life-time contributed more than $350 million of his wealth approximated to be about $400 million (“Are We Living in a New Gilded Age?” par. 3). Nothing has changed in the 21 st century. However, history seems to be repeating itself. The rich continue to acquire billions of dollars at the expense of the poor. In con