What era is characterized by the transition from an agricultural-based economy to an industrial economy in the U.S.?

The Gilded Age is the era recognized for the dramatic transformation of the United States from an agricultural-based economy to an industrialized nation. This period, roughly spanning from the 1870s to the early 1900s, was marked by rapid economic growth, urbanization, and the rise of factories. Innovations in technology, such as the expansion of railroads and the introduction of mass production techniques, facilitated this shift, allowing industries to flourish and reshaping society with the migration of people to urban areas seeking jobs.

The Gilded Age also witnessed significant changes in labor dynamics, with the rise of a working class and growing tensions leading to strikes and labor movements in response to the often poor working conditions. This era set the stage for future developments in labor rights and economic policy. While the Progressive Era followed this period and focused on reforms to address various societal issues, it was the Gilded Age that fundamentally established the industrial economy which characterized the United States moving into the 20th century.