The anti-trust case against Standard Oil, based on the Sherman Antitrust Act, pitted the federal government against the largest corporation in the United States. Read the trial preparation information including the arguments of the...

As part of a large site dealing with the election of 1896 is this article on Trusts and Monopolies. Although the focus is on the Republicans' anti-trust sentiments in the election, you can read about the rise of big business, monopolies,...

In the era of big business and business tycoons in the late 19th century, John D. Rockefeller held a very high position. Read about how he thwarted an attempt by two railroad owners to keep Rockefeller from controlling all the oil...

An explanation of the Supreme Court decision in 1911 that broke up the monopoly of Standard Oil, charged with unreasonable restraint of trade. Read commentary that claimed that the decision did not really increase competition in the oil...

After a brief description of various ways that businesses are organized, find out about the monopolies formed in the age of big business in the late 19th century, focusing primarily on Standard Oil. [pdf]

This is a very short article, which briefly explains what a trust is and how a trust is formed. Included is a summary of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prohibited the creation of trusts and monopolies in 1890.

With the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in the mid 1800s brought a boom to the economy. Read about the beginning of the oil industry, and particularly, John D. Rockefeller's role in it. See how his control of many parts of the...

John D. Rockefeller was a determined (some would say ruthless) businessman, who managed to gain control of all the oil refineries in Cleveland by 1872. Read about how he expanded his business while putting others out of business. [pdf]

John D. Rockefeller was a controversial figure in the business world of the 19th century. Read about his actions to consolidate his control of the oil refining business in all its aspects. Find arguments claiming that he was an...

Social reform resutled from the work of journalists known as muckrackers; Ida Tarbell was one such journalist. This website includes a biography as well as an archive of selected articles and letters by Tarbell.

This resource, a speech by Woodrow Wilson to Congress on April 8, 1913, gives a great review of how the United States transformed from from a rural country to an urban one. It includes a review of industrialization, new inventions,...