What did the Sherman Antitrust Act aim to outlaw?

The Sherman Antitrust Act was enacted in 1890 with the primary purpose of addressing the growing concerns over corporate monopolies and combinations that restrained trade. The act specifically aimed to make illegal any agreements or practices that would limit competition in the marketplace, which includes "combinations in restraint of trade." This foundational legislation was significant in shaping antitrust law in the United States, as it established a legal framework to challenge and dismantle monopolistic practices that adversely affected consumers and fair competition.

While the act is sometimes associated with targeting labor unions, particularly in political discourse of the time, its primary focus was on regulating business practices that curtailed competition. Predatory pricing practices and corporate monopolies can be seen as reasons for enforcement under the act, but they fall under the broader category of combinations in restraint of trade, which captures the intent of the legislation more accurately. Thus, the aim of the Sherman Antitrust Act was fundamentally to outlaw combinations that restricted free trade and competition.