Final answer:
Businesses lobbied, formed trade associations, and sometimes directly funded lawmakers to prevent government intervention in their industries, influencing legislation to favor business interests through higher tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To ensure the government did not get involved with their industries, some businesses took to lobbying and influencing legislation. They did this by forming trade associations and hiring specialists to advocate for their interests. This sometimes involved funding congressional campaigns and, in some cases, providing money directly to lawmakers, which was perceived by many as bribery. Moreover, industries exerted their influence to promote laws favoring business interests, such as higher protective tariffs, tax cuts for the wealthy, and deregulation, all of which were measures that could help businesses self-regulate and avoid more stringent government involvement.