How does the term "gilded age" characterize american society in the late nineteenth century? in what ways is this characterization accurate or inaccurate?

The term, the Gilded Age was given the late 19th century by American poet Mark Twain, he argued this label embody the characteristics of the American people as being beautiful and decedent on the exterior while being corrupt under the surface. In some ways this is very accurate, one can look to the tycoons of the period, such as Andrew Carnegie who built an industrial empire from ruthless business practices and the established the foundations of economic monopoly and exploitation. However, other components of the Gilded Age were based on morals examples include the temperance movement which argued from limiting alcohol consumption.