The Gilded Age began after the conclusion of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Its duration spans from the late 1860s to the late 1890s. The Gilded Age is defined as the period of time in which the United States economy and population grew rapidly. It brought with it many cases of exploited workers and as a result the rich became even richer. Political corruption also had a massive presence in this period. But if we turn on these negatives, the positives come into play. The inventions generated during this period are one of the greatest achievements of the Golden Age. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay One of the most important inventions was completed in 1869. On May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was finalized in Promontory Summit, Utah. The railroad composed of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines. The Union Pacific Railroad began in Omaha, Nebraska, while the Central Pacific Railroad began in Sacramento, California. The Transcontinental Railroad allowed for the rapid increase in settlement in the West. It also granted businesses/individuals an easier way to transport supplies/goods across the United States. The next major invention came in August 1872. The Montgomery Ward was invented by Aaron Montgomery Ward with the goal of using the national railroad to spread his catalog to popularize his products. His catalogs were enormously successful, and by 1888 Montgomery Ward reached $1 million in annual sales. It became the world's first mail-order catalog business. Ward purchased merchandise in bulk, then sold it to customers. Most of his customers came from rural areas because they were not able to access goods as easily as those who lived in urban areas. It wasn't until 1876 that the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. There were previous inventions by Antonio Meucci (1849) and Charles Bourseul (1854). Bell was the original patent of the telephone. The invention of the telephone was crucial in many ways. One of the main effects it had was to significantly reduce the time it took to send a message over long distances. If one city were to inform another city across the country, it could do so more efficiently. The light bulb, in my opinion, was the most significant invention during the Golden Age. Before its invention, the only ways to acquire light were the sun, candles, and gas lanterns. The use of candles posed the risk of fire. The presence of candles in a house made it prone to burning. The light bulb made it possible to extend the working days and continue even after sunset. So, in a way, light bulbs allowed the economy to improve by extending working hours. Another positive factor is that using more light bulbs means using fewer candles. As a result there were fewer fires. Now, if we switch gears a little, the invention of the cigarette rolling machine in 1881 was vital to the economy. This machine was invented by James Albert Bonsack. During the Golden Age, one of the most common pastimes was smoking cigarettes. Especially for those who worked in mines and factories as it was very cheap to buy. With the introduction of the rolling machine, seventy thousand cigarettes were produced in ten hours. It allowed demand levels for cigarettes to be met. Bonsack's invention was motivated by an incentive; there was a reward of seventy thousand dollars for anyone who could invent it.