Laissez-Faire vs Regulation · US History

The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was often ineffective in its early years because:

  1. The language was vague and the courts were often sympathetic to big business
  2. It was written in a way that only applied to small businesses
  3. The President was not legally allowed to enforce it without state permission
  4. It was immediately repealed by the Supreme Court
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Correct answer: The language was vague and the courts were often sympathetic to big business

While the act prohibited 'combinations in restraint of trade,' it did not clearly define what a trust or monopoly was. Early court decisions often interpreted the law narrowly, sometimes even using it against labor unions rather than corporations.

Difficulty: Medium Question 17 of 20

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