The sherman antitrust act was passed in the late nineteenth century in an attempt to

Address severe business practices associated with cartels and oppressive patents, is the right answer.

Explanation:

The Sherman Antitrust Act that was enacted in the year 1890 was antitrust law in the U.S. This Bill placed competition among businesses, which was passed by Congress after the government of Benjamin Harrison. This act prevents the following: (1) anti-competitive arrangements and (2) individual organisation that monopolizes or attempts to monopolize the relevant industry. Its repudiation of the cartel was also estimated to obtain illegal many labour union operations.