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How Did Theodore Roosevelt Monopolies

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In September of 1901 Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became president after the assassination of President William McKinley, this was would be the beginning of the end for monopolies and big businesses trust. Roosevelt accepted monopolies but he proposed a “federal commission to regulate them by inspecting their accounting books and setting maximum prices on their products.” In his mind regulating instead of disassembling monopolies or trust was a better path to take because he felt like this would send business in the country back into the 18th century.
The public demanded the government do something to control the powerful trust, and regulate the extreme prices of the railroads. In 1887 the Interstate Commerce Act was passed. This was supposed to require interstate railroads to lower their prices and charge “reasonable and just” rates. The commission which watched over the railroads had little to no authority to enforce this on the railroads. Later The Sherman Act was passed in 1890, it outlawed “every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of trade,” also made it a crime “to combine or conspire …to monopolize and part of the trade or commerce among the several states.” …show more content…
But he also observed that “there are real and grave evils” that needed to be corrected. This message to congress showed how he was against the corruption of big businesses but was also against the banning of monopolies. He believed it would be better to assume power of supervision and regulation of all big business corporations. Soon regardless of his pro-business outlook he would have to start breaking up monopolies or “trustbusting” due to the demands of the

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