LAD # 27: Clayton Anti-Trust Act

     In the late nineteenth century big business was posing quite a problem for the poor working class of America and there was a problem with the laissez faire government letting big business practically take control of America. Due to the power of industry many trusts and monopolies were created which hurt small businesses and allowed the big business owners to gain even more power. At first the government was in favor of industry because it brought success to America. Although eventually legislations were later passed such as the Sherman Anti-Trust act and the ICC but they were not enforced and sometimes were actually used against the workers. When Teddy Roosevelt became president things actually started changing for the benefit of the workers. Roosevelt even became known as a trust-buster because of his strong policies that were directed at stopping trusts from forming. The Clayton Anti-Trust Act passed in 1914 stated that no corporation could own the stock of another, and fixing prices on goods and transportation was illegal. This act also could not be used against workers.