Antitrust jako výsledek dlouhodobých tendencí vývoje amerického hospodářství?

This bachelor thesis deals with the beginnings of antitrust law in the USA on federal level. It shows the changes in American economy from the end of the Civil War to the enactment of the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1890 and puts together a global view on the origins of antitrust. It also gives evidence that the real intent of the formation of antitrust was not protection of consumers. Instead, it was the protection of private interests – to shield smaller farmers and other small producers from more effective competition, private revenge of senator Sherman and the need of the Republican party to put through a new tariff bill. Furthermore, this thesis presents some significant theoretical objections to antitrust and shows its unpredictability on the case of the Standard Oil Company. In historical terms is antitrust presented as an indefensible product of lobby groups.