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This article explores how the U.S. government regulated big business during the Industrial Revolution, focusing on the formation of trusts and the passage of laws such as the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act. It also discusses the enforcement of these laws by President Theodore Roosevelt.
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January 9, 2019 U.S. History Agenda: NOTES #31: How did the U.S. government regulate big business during the Industrial Revolution? NOTES #32: Why did labor unions form in the U.S.? INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTON OPEN-NOTES TEST TOMORROW (BASED ON NOTES #s 29–32)
How did the U.S. government regulate big business during the Industrial Revolution? Notes #31
By the late 1800s, many big businesses in the U.S. were becoming monopolies by controlling or dominating their industries. Carnegie Steel Company
Big business leaders established monopolies by forming trusts, which eliminated their competition through the combination of businesses. • John D. Rockefeller; founder of the Standard Oil Company
The U.S. government ignored these monopolies at first, until growing public criticism resulted in laws being passed to regulate big business.
The Interstate Commerce Act was passed in 1887 to regulate railroads.
This law created the Interstate Commerce Commission, which was an agency that forced railroads to charge fair rates for all customers.
The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890 to prohibit monopolies. Standard Oil Company
However, many big businesses got around this law and it was not strictly enforced until the early 1900s. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)