The Interstate Commerce Act was one of the first laws to attack monopolies during the Progressive Reform.
The Progressive Reform was a movement that took place in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a belief in the need for social, political, and economic reform. One of the main goals of the Progressive Reform was to address the problem of monopolies and the concentration of economic power in the hands of a few large corporations.
The Interstate Commerce Act was passed in 1887 and was the first federal law to regulate the railroad industry in the United States. It aimed to address the problem of discriminatory rates and practices by railroads, which had previously been able to charge different rates to different customers and engage in other unfair practices. The Act established the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which was given the power to regulate interstate commerce and enforce the provisions of the Act.
The Interstate Commerce Act was an important early step in the effort to address monopolies and promote competition during the Progressive Reform.