(1890) First U.S. legislation enacted to curb concentrations of power that restrict trade and reduce economic competition.
Proposed by Sen. Theodore Roosevelt . In 1914 Congress strengthened the act with the Clayton Antitrust Act and the formation of the Federal Trade Commission. In 1920 the U.S. Supreme Court relaxed antitrust regulations so that only "unreasonable" restraint of trade through acquisitions, mergers, and predatory pricing constituted a violation. Later cases reinforced the prohibition against monopoly control, including the 1984 break-up of AT&T . See also {{link=antitrust law">antitrust law .