Final answer:
The Sherman Antitrust Act aimed to limit the power of trusts and monopolies in the United States. It led to the breakup of major trusts, but its enforcement was not always effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sherman Antitrust Act was a federal law passed in 1890 that aimed to limit the power of trusts and monopolies in the United States. It gave the government the authority to break up corporations that were acting in restraint of free trade by forming monopolies and engaging in unfair business practices that artificially raised prices.
The effects of the Sherman Antitrust Act were mixed. On one hand, it led to the breakup of several major trusts, including the Standard Oil Company. This increased competition and allowed for more market diversity. On the other hand, the law was not always effectively enforced, and some corporations found loopholes to continue their monopolistic practices.
Overall, the Sherman Antitrust Act was an important step towards regulating and preventing the concentration of economic power in the hands of a few large corporations, but it did not completely eliminate monopolies and unfair business practices.