a) Sherman Antitrust Act

The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 sought to regulate the power of monopolies in the U.S. This landmark federal statute aimed to preserve free competition by prohibiting business practices that restrained trade or led to monopolization. The act was a response to the growing power of large corporations and trusts, particularly in the railroad and oil industries. It marked the beginning of U.S. antitrust law and was a significant step in government efforts to regulate big business.