Final answer:
During the Progressive Era, the Supreme Court played a vital role in interpreting the law and making significant rulings. The Court's decisions on cases like United States v. E.C. Knight Co., Northern Securities Co. v. United States, and Muller v. Oregon had a lasting impact on the regulation of monopolies, interstate commerce, and labor rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the Supreme Court during the Progressive Era was to interpret and apply the law to various cases that arose during this time period. One important case was United States v. E.C. Knight Co. (1895) which dealt with the issue of monopolies. The Supreme Court ruled that the Sherman Antitrust Act did not apply to manufacturing companies, only to those involved in interstate commerce. This ruling limited the federal government's ability to break up large monopolies, inhibiting efforts to regulate business practices effectively.
Another significant case was Northern Securities Co. v. United States (1904). The Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of the Northern Securities Company, a combination of multiple railroads that controlled rail traffic from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest. This decision reinforced the government's power to regulate and break up monopolies in the interest of promoting fair competition.
Lastly, in the case of Muller v. Oregon (1908), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of an Oregon law that limited women's working hours to protect their health and promote family well-being. This decision recognized the state's authority to pass laws that placed restrictions on certain working conditions, setting a precedent for future labor regulations.
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