Problem1: Powerful corporations and wealthy elites resisted efforts to regulate their activities or break up monopolies. They used their economic and political influence to lobby against reform measures that threatened their interests.
 Solution 1:Reformers pushed for the passage of antitrust laws like the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) and the Clayton Antitrust Act (1914) to break up monopolies and prevent anti-competitive practices.
Problem 2:There were ideological divides among policymakers and the public regarding the role of government in the economy. Some believed in a laissez-faire approach, advocating minimal government intervention, while others supported greater government regulation and intervention to address economic inequalities and social injustices.
Solution 2:: Progressive reformers developed pragmatic policy proposals that emphasized government intervention to correct market failures and promote social welfare while preserving the basic tenets of free-market capitalism. Progressive thinkers also held public debates to educate the public on the need for government regulation to address economic inequality.
Theodore Roosevelt: As President of the United States, Roosevelt pursued progressive economic policies aimed at curbing the power of monopolies and promoting fair competition. His administration brought numerous antitrust cases against corporations, leading to the breakup of several monopolies.
Jane Addams: While primarily known for her work in social reform and settlement house movement, Jane Addams also contributed to economic reform efforts. She advocated for labor rights, supported legislation to improve working conditions and wages, and promoted cooperative economics as an alternative to industrial capitalism.
Reformers where fairly successful with economic reform
Efforts to regulate big business and break up monopolies, known as the trust-busting campaign, resulted in significant victories and advocacy for economic regulation and consumer protection influenced public discourse and helped lay the groundwork for subsequent reforms.