In 1890 Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act.
The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 forbade "combinations in restraint of
trade," but lacked enforcement power. As practices of large corporations
continued to result in monopolistic forms and to reduce competition,
Congress responded with the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914. Congress also
established an enforcement arm, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Today the FTC monitors practices that might lead to trusts or discourage
fair competition. The FTC's powers extend beyond regulating corporations
to protecting consumers.
Based on an analysis of the information, what inference can be made about the impact of
antitrust legislation?
A. Companies lost influence over rules for legal incorporation.
B. Competition among businesses reduced consumer confidence.
C. Laissez-faire capitalism was weakened by government regulations.
D. Monopolies lost tax incentives that had kept costs down for consumers.