What did the Sherman Anti-Trust Act attempt to do?

1 Answer
Jan 10, 2018

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act pushed the American government to pursue supposed trusts, groups of business interest that cooperate to form a monopoly, and disband them to create a competitive economic environment.

Explanation:

Passed by Congress in 1890, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was originally intended to protect consumers and smaller businesses from monopolistic practices enabled by trusts.

As the first important federal measure to limit the power of companies, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act represents a beginning of a massive increase in mercantilistic government practices in America.

Fun Fact: Among the most famous trust were Carnegie Steel and John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company.