The sherman antitrust act was passed in the late nineteenth century in an attempt to

The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in the late nineteenth century, specifically in 1890, with the primary goal of promoting fair competition and preventing monopolistic practices in business. The key objectives of the Act were:

1. Prohibiting Monopolies and Restraints of Trade:

  - The Sherman Antitrust Act aimed to prevent anticompetitive practices, such as agreements or conspiracies that restrained trade or commerce.

2. Preserving and Promoting Competition:

  - It sought to maintain a competitive marketplace by preventing the undue concentration of economic power in the hands of a few large corporations.

3. Regulating Business Practices:

  - The Act empowered the federal government to investigate and take legal action against businesses engaged in practices that hindered competition or created monopolies.

4. Protecting Consumers and Small Businesses:

  - By preventing monopolies and promoting competition, the Sherman Antitrust Act intended to protect consumers from price manipulation and ensure that small businesses had a fair chance to compete.

In essence, the Sherman Antitrust Act marked a significant step in U.S. antitrust law, reflecting a broader societal concern about the potential negative effects of concentrated economic power on competition, innovation, and consumer welfare.