Which pair of acts are considered early 20th-century antitrust reforms?

Which pair of acts are considered early 20th-century antitrust reforms?

• A. Federal Trade Commission Act and Clayton Antitrust Act
• B. Sherman Antitrust Act and Glass-Steagall Act
• C. Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act
• D. Wagner Act and Taft-Hartley Act

Answer: (A)

Antitrust reforms in the Progressive Era aimed to curb the power of big corporations by creating dedicated enforcement and tightening rules to keep markets competitive. The pair that best fits this goal is the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act. The FTC Act established the Federal Trade Commission to enforce laws against unfair methods of competition and deceptive practices, giving the government an ongoing, centralized means to monitor business conduct. The Clayton Act strengthened antitrust policy by targeting specific practices that the earlier law didn’t fully address—things like certain mergers, price discrimination, and exclusive dealing—thereby closing gaps and making enforcement more precise. Together, they reflect a move from broad punitive measures to structured regulatory oversight designed to preserve competition. The other options address different areas or earlier laws. The Sherman Antitrust Act is foundational but dates from the late 19th century, not the early 20th; the Glass-Steagall Act is banking reform from the 1930s. Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act focus on consumer safety and food regulation, not antitrust. The Wagner Act and Taft-Hartley Act relate to labor relations, not competition policy.

Antitrust reforms in the Progressive Era aimed to curb the power of big corporations by creating dedicated enforcement and tightening rules to keep markets competitive. The pair that best fits this goal is the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act. The FTC Act established the Federal Trade Commission to enforce laws against unfair methods of competition and deceptive practices, giving the government an ongoing, centralized means to monitor business conduct. The Clayton Act strengthened antitrust policy by targeting specific practices that the earlier law didn’t fully address—things like certain mergers, price discrimination, and exclusive dealing—thereby closing gaps and making enforcement more precise. Together, they reflect a move from broad punitive measures to structured regulatory oversight designed to preserve competition.

The other options address different areas or earlier laws. The Sherman Antitrust Act is foundational but dates from the late 19th century, not the early 20th; the Glass-Steagall Act is banking reform from the 1930s. Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act focus on consumer safety and food regulation, not antitrust. The Wagner Act and Taft-Hartley Act relate to labor relations, not competition policy.