In the early 1910s the United States remained relatively isolated and in the midst of a recession. The majority of Americans still lived in rural areas, and many worked for themselves or in small enterprises. The world of big business, revolving around trusts and holding companies, seemed far removed from the average citizen, but large conglomerates controlled railroads, banks, insurance companies, steel, meatpacking, and oil refining. Despite the federal government's antitrust laws and attempts at regulating large corporations, the government played a relatively small role in the economy.
The rise of big business and the triumph of industrial civilization changed the country economically and socially. The United States used its vast resources and technical expertise to become a dominant power in this age. Officials in both business and government realized that to advance their related interests, the ties between corporations and government had to be.....
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