Final answer:
The breakup of Standard Oil was the result of the first U.S. government anti-trust case following the Sherman Antitrust Act. The Supreme Court decision in 1911 led to Standard Oil's split into 34 independent firms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first U.S. government anti-trust case against a major corporation resulted in the breakup of Standard Oil. This monumental case took place following the establishment of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890, which aimed to combat the monopolies that were prevalent at the time. In 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the government had the authority to break up Standard Oil, which led to its division into 34 independent companies, among them Exxon, Mobil, Amoco, and Chevron.