Sherman Antitrust Act

Definition

The Sherman Antitrust Act is a landmark U.S. federal law passed in 1890 that prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace. It is a key piece of legislation in regulating anticompetitive behavior and promoting a free market economy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Sherman Antitrust Act was the first major U.S. law to limit monopolies and cartels, aiming to promote economic competition.
2. It empowers the federal government to investigate and prosecute companies engaged in monopolistic or collusive practices that restrain trade.
3. Violations of the Sherman Act can result in civil and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment for individuals involved.
4. The Act has been used to break up large monopolistic companies, such as the Standard Oil and American Tobacco Company trusts in the early 20th century.
5. Subsequent antitrust legislation, such as the Clayton Act and Federal Trade Commission Act, have further strengthened and expanded the government's ability to regulate anticompetitive behavior.

Review Questions

• Explain the key objectives and provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
  • The primary objectives of the Sherman Antitrust Act were to promote competition, protect consumers from monopolistic practices, and prevent the formation of cartels and trusts that could restrict interstate commerce. The Act prohibits activities such as price-fixing, market allocation, and other collusive behaviors that limit competition. It empowers the federal government to investigate and prosecute companies engaged in these anticompetitive practices, with potential civil and criminal penalties.
• Describe the historical context and significance of the Sherman Antitrust Act in the development of U.S. antitrust policy.
  • The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890 in response to growing public concern over the increasing power and influence of large monopolistic corporations, known as 'trusts,' during the Gilded Age. It represented a landmark shift in U.S. economic policy, moving away from the previously held laissez-faire approach and towards greater government intervention to promote competition and protect consumers. The Act laid the foundation for subsequent antitrust legislation, such as the Clayton Act and Federal Trade Commission Act, which have further strengthened the government's ability to regulate anticompetitive behavior and ensure a more competitive marketplace.
• Analyze the impact of the Sherman Antitrust Act on the U.S. economy and the evolution of antitrust enforcement over time.
  • The Sherman Antitrust Act had a significant impact on the U.S. economy by curbing the power of monopolies and cartels, fostering greater competition, and protecting consumer welfare. Its enforcement over the past century has evolved, with the federal government using the Act to break up large monopolistic companies, such as Standard Oil and American Tobacco, in the early 20th century. More recently, the Act has been used to address emerging anticompetitive practices in industries like technology, healthcare, and finance. As the economy has become more complex, the interpretation and application of the Sherman Act have adapted to address new challenges, reflecting the ongoing importance of antitrust policy in maintaining a competitive and dynamic market system.

Related terms

Monopoly:

A market structure characterized by a single seller of a good or service with no close substitutes, allowing the monopolist to exercise control over pricing and output.

Cartel: An agreement between competing firms to control prices, restrict output, or divide up a market, reducing competition.

Antitrust Laws:

A set of laws and regulations designed to promote and protect competition in the marketplace by prohibiting monopolistic practices and other anti-competitive behaviors.