Explain what Laissez-faire economics is and why it was used during the gilded age?

Laissez Faire economics are where the government does not interfere in the national economy unless it becomes absolutely necessary,and then only to give it a nudge back onto the right path,rather than through massive amounts of stringent legislation.

It was used in US during the Gilded Age because that was the economic policy of British governments at the time (and had long been so),and Britain was the richest and most powerful country in the world at the time.

Laissez- faire is basically when the government is hands off, they have no say in private business. They used so they could give Americans freedom. But it led to the government eventually interfering because work conditions were bad, one business owner even compared this workers to machines, and other stuff. It led to the Sherman Antitrust Act and Interstate Act.