In the years after the Civil War, the rise of big business brought great innovation to the economy in America. It was during the Progressive Era of the late 19th century to the start of World War I where the country proved to the world that it …show more content…
Rockafellow used this process to purchase independent oil refineries in an attempt to eliminate his competition. U.S. Steel Company, however, used a slightly different but similar approach. Carnegie applied vertical integration into his company which means his plan is to buy all production levels to become more powerful. This kind of business practice allowed for corporations to grow and consolidated their power which ultimately made it an influential institution just like our federal government. Steps were taken to deal with their monopoly and proved how these efforts were ultimately …show more content…
The Sherman Antitrust Act was the first initiative to stop abusive companies and remains the most important.(Sherman Act ) This act allowed the government to pursue any actions that enable a company to stay in power using unconventional methods and settled in court. Law did dissolve the trusts that allowed. Trusts used various ways to eliminates competition. Either by buying others out, forcing consumers to sign a contract, briefly undercutting their prices, and using intimidation and violence.(Sherman Act) Congress passed additional measures to support the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Clayton Antitrust Act mentioned specific practices illegal that contributed to or resulted in monopolization.( Sherman page) The Robinson-Patman Act of 1936 gave additional support to the Clayton Antitrust Act preventing a large supplier from providing different prices to different customers if it will harm smaller independent firms.(Sherman page) Providing further assistance to the Clayton Antitrust Act, the Celler-Kefauver Act of 1050 prevents companies from merging with a competitor to lessen competition by buying physical assets ( Sherman