A business trust is an entity formed by several corporations working together to consolidate a monopoly over an industry. What was the first landmark legislation meant to curtail the power of these monopolies?

A.
the National Bank Act

B.
the Clayton Antitrust Act

C.
the Sherman Antitrust Act

D.
the Interstate Commerce Act

C. the Sherman Antitrust Act

C. The Sherman Antitrust Act is the first landmark legislation meant to curtail the power of monopolies formed by business trusts. It was enacted in 1890 and aimed to promote fair competition and protect consumers by prohibiting trusts and monopolies that restricted trade or commerce.

The correct answer is C. the Sherman Antitrust Act. This landmark legislation was enacted in the United States in 1890 and aimed to address the issue of monopolies and business trusts. It was the first significant effort by the government to curtail the power of these monopolies.

If you were looking to find the correct answer yourself, one way to do so would be to familiarize yourself with the history of antitrust legislation in the United States. By understanding the context and timeline of such legislation, you would be able to identify which act was the first to address monopolies and business trusts. Additionally, researching the details and provisions of each act would help you determine which one specifically targeted the consolidation of power in industries.