Does the gilded age leave one hopeful or hopeless for the united states at the end of the gilded age and the dawn of the 20th century

The Gilded Age was a period of time that displayed considerable amounts of Foul play in economic exploitation, political corruption, and unethical business practices. Many people who saw the dishonest and unlawful ways of the rich and powerful took action to better the American society. Many reformers of the Gilded age were successful in bringing the change they desired; the reforms are still in effect to this day in our country, working to protect American citizens from unfair business practices that concentrated economic power, subjected workers to horrific labor conditions, and outcasted the mentally ill.  Read the passages from www.coursehero.