How did the U.S. government attempt to regulate big business?

Carnegie Steel Company By the late 1800s, many companies were becoming monopolies by controlling or dominating their industries. Carnegie Steel Company

Business leaders created monopolies by forming trusts, which eliminated competition through the combination of businesses.  John D. Rockefeller

The U.S. government ignored such actions at first, until growing criticisms forced political change.

The Interstate Commerce Act was passed in 1887 to regulate railroads.

This law set up the Interstate Commerce Commission, an agency that forced railroads to charge fair rates for all customers.

The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890 to regulate big business by prohibiting monopolies.  Standard Oil Company

However, many companies got around this law and it was not strictly enforced until the early 1900s.  Conglomerates today 

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