"Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal... Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize... any part of the trade or commerce among the several States... shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor." — Sherman Antitrust Act, 1890
The act was designed primarily to:
- Acheck_circle
Restrict combinations that limited competition in interstate commerce
- B
Protect labor unions from injunctions in federal courts
- C
Subsidize small farmers facing falling crop prices
- D
Reorganize the federal banking system
Explanation
Congress responded to popular outrage over trusts by outlawing combinations restraining interstate trade, though early enforcement was weak and often turned against unions.