Final answer:
The excerpt from the Sherman Act of 1890 represents a key piece of U.S. antitrust law, aimed at preventing monopolies and preserving competition in the marketplace. Its passing signified government action against the dominance of large businesses and set the stage for future regulatory measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sherman Act of 1890, excerpted in your question, is a seminal piece of U.S. legislation that helped to control the power of monopolies. Its main purpose was to preserve free and fair competition in the marketplace and it represents the starting point of modern antitrust laws. Congress passed this act in response to public concern over the dominance of large businesses, often organized as "trusts," which controlled entire industries and stifled competition.
The Sherman Act made it illegal to monopolize or attempt to monopolize, any part of trade or commerce in the U.S. One of the most notable early applications of the Sherman Act was the breakup of Standard Oil in 1911, which resulted in the creation of smaller, independent firms. The legislation laid the foundation for subsequent antitrust laws including the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 and the creation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to further regulate unfair competition.