In conclusion, the circumstances that defined the Gilded Age brought about many problems that the politics of the time failed to do justice. Despite occasional pieces of legislation being signed into law, the passivity and general corruption of the government ultimately denied the passage of reform when it came to social and economic issues. Although a few measures were taken to handle the plight of the working class, the disparity in railroad rates and the overwhelming influence of monopolies and trusts on politics, they were largely ineffective to reach their intended goals. The politics of the Gilded Age failed to deal with the social and economic issues of the times.
