Final answer:
Americans opposed big businesses and monopolies because they c. believed monopolies restricted fair competition and harmed consumers. They wanted to regulate the power of monopolies through anti-monopoly legislation to ensure fair competition in the market.
Step-by-step explanation:
Americans opposed big businesses and monopolies because c. they believed that monopolies restricted fair competition and harmed consumers. They felt that when competition was reduced, these large firms could charge more and make permanently higher profits, without the incentive to be as efficient or innovative as they could be with the pressure of competition.
By supporting anti-monopoly legislation, such as the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, Americans aimed to regulate the power of monopolies and ensure fair competition in the market.