Here's why:
* Verisimilitude means "the appearance of being real or true." This is a key characteristic of Realism, as authors aimed to depict everyday life and social issues in a realistic and believable way.
* Realism emerged as a reaction against Romanticism, which often emphasized idealized characters and settings. Realist authors focused on portraying ordinary people, their struggles, and the social problems of the time.
* The period from 1860-1890 in American literature is often considered the "Golden Age of Realism." This era saw the rise of prominent Realist authors like Mark Twain, Henry James, William Dean Howells, and Edith Wharton.
Therefore, Realism, with its focus on verisimilitude and authentic depictions of life, is the dominant literary movement of the period you specified.