The Gilded Age E68 Gold-Plated Peace: Marines in the Age of Industry

After the Civil War, the Marine Corps entered its quietest era. There were no major wars, little funding, and almost no growth. But quiet didn't mean inactive. While the U.S. focused on rebuilding and chasing economic progress during the Gilded Age, Marines adapted. They manned ships, patrolled foreign ports, broke up riots at home, and took part in some of the earliest examples of U.S. global presence. At home, they helped enforce federal law and saw the beginnings of modernization in weapons, uniforms, and training.