did the federal government favor business owners or workers

The relationship between the federal government, business owners, and workers has evolved through different periods of U.S. history, and the degree to which the government has favored one group over the other has varied depending on the time period, the political climate, and specific legislation.

In many instances during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it can be argued that the federal government often favored business owners over workers. This was a period known as the Gilded Age and the early Industrial Revolution in the United States, where big business interests had significant influence over government policies. Laws and regulations—or the lack thereof—typically favored the growth and power of corporations. During this time, business monopolies grew with little government intervention and labor unions had to fight hard for workers' rights, often facing opposition from both employers and the government.

However, during the Progressive Era at the turn of the 20th century, and more notably during the New Deal era in the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the federal government took a more active role in regulating businesses and providing protections for workers. The creation of the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act) in 1935 guaranteed the rights of employees to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action such as strikes.

In the years following World War II, the balance shifted somewhat, with both business interests and workers' rights being addressed by federal policies—an example being the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which placed certain restrictions on labor unions but also continued to protect the right of workers to organize.

In more contemporary times, the favor of the federal government can fluctuate. Policies and regulations put forth by different administrations and congresses may favor one side or the other, and this all depends on which political party holds power and what economic philosophies they subscribe to.