Final answer:
Theodore Roosevelt used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to destroy bad trusts, effectively dismantling monopolistic corporations such as the Northern Securities Company and Standard Oil.
Step-by-step explanation:
Theodore Roosevelt is often remembered as a trust buster for his efforts to dismantle monopolistic corporations, known as trusts. The primary tool Roosevelt employed to destroy bad trusts was the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890. This act gave the federal government the power to break up corporations acting against free trade. For instance, Roosevelt used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to file a lawsuit against the Northern Securities Company, eventually leading to its dissolution by the Supreme Court in 1904. This act was a pivotal piece of legislation aimed at combating trusts that interfered with free markets and interstate commerce.
Roosevelt also reinforced the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) by supporting the passage of the Elkins Act in 1903, making it more effective at regulating railroads. However, the creation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Westward Anti-Trust Act were not part of his administration's approach to dealing with trusts.
Therefore, the answer to the student's question is C: Roosevelt used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to destroy bad trusts. Roosevelt's administration leveraged this act to initiate and successfully prosecute a series of antitrust lawsuits, including high-profile cases against massive companies like the Northern Securities Company and Standard Oil.