Which act was introduced to combat monopolies during the Progressive Era?

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was specifically enacted in 1890 to combat monopolistic practices and promote fair competition among businesses. During the Progressive Era, there was a growing concern over the power and influence of large corporations and monopolies that stifled competition and harmed consumers. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act served as a legislative tool aimed at addressing these issues by prohibiting contracts, combinations, or conspiracies that restrained trade or commerce. This act laid the foundational legal framework for antitrust enforcement in the United States and was pivotal in regulating corporate behavior and protecting the marketplace from abusive monopolistic practices.

The other acts listed, such as the Federal Reserve Act, which established the Federal Reserve System to regulate banking, or the National Labor Relations Act, which focused on labor rights and unionization, were not designed to specifically target monopolies. The New Deal Act encompasses a broader series of programs and reforms in response to the Great Depression rather than addressing monopoly power directly. The focus of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act on dismantling monopolistic corporations makes it the correct answer within the context of combating monopolies during the Progressive Era.