NOTES #32: Why did labor unions form in the U.S.? January 9, 2019 U.S. History Agenda: NOTES #31: How did the U.S. government regulate big business during the Industrial Revolution? NOTES #32: Why did labor unions form in the U.S.? INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTON OPEN-NOTES TEST TOMORROW (BASED ON NOTES #s 29–32)

How did the U.S. government regulate big business during the Industrial Revolution? Notes #31

Carnegie Steel Company By the late 1800s, many big businesses in the U.S. were becoming monopolies by controlling or dominating their industries. Carnegie Steel Company

Big business leaders established monopolies by forming trusts, which eliminated their competition through the combination of businesses. John D. Rockefeller; founder of the Standard Oil Company

The U.S. government ignored these monopolies at first, until growing public criticism resulted in laws being passed to regulate big business.

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

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

The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890 to prohibit monopolies.  Standard Oil Company

President Theodore Roosevelt However, many big businesses got around this law and it was not strictly enforced until the early 1900s. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)