Which act sought to regulate monopolies and protect competition?

The correct answer is the Sherman Antitrust Act, which was enacted in 1890 as one of the first federal actions to regulate interstate commerce and curb monopolistic practices. The act aimed to prohibit business activities that were deemed anti-competitive, such as monopolization and attempts to restrain trade or commerce. Its primary purpose was to maintain a competitive market environment, benefiting consumers through fair pricing and innovation.

The Sherman Antitrust Act laid the groundwork for future antitrust legislation, including the Clayton Antitrust Act, which built on its principles by addressing specific business practices and providing clearer definitions of anti-competitive behavior. The other acts listed, while related to regulation and commerce, either focus on specific industries (like the Interstate Commerce Act with railroads) or established regulatory bodies (such as the Federal Trade Commission Act), rather than directly targeting monopolies in the broad scope that the Sherman Act did.