Businesses
Emma Burkart
When the Civil War was over, men started a new, wanting that big break to be put on the map
New methods of technology and business are increasing production and helping raise needed money for the regrowing economy. Americans were realizing all the natural resources that they can turn into goods. Businesses were incorporating and selling stocks.
John D. Rockefeller
Rockefeller made his empire on oil. He along with four partners made a oil refinery and organized the Standard Oil Company of Ohio. Rockefeller created a method of combining competing firms into one corporation. He lowered his prices to drive competitors out of business, pressured customers not to make deals with other companies and created a trust to increase his control of the oil industry.
Trying to Pull Back the Reigns
In some states there were laws passed restricting combinations of businesses, but corporations continued to thrive in states without these laws. In 1890 Congress passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, the law was "to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraint and monopoly". In its early years the law actually did little to stop the growing corporations.