The first of the federal antitrust statutes. Passed in 1890, the Sherman Act declares, at §1 that: "Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several State, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal..." "Trust" was a common word in that era for the concept of concentrations of power - thus giving rise to the term "antitrust." Section 2 of the Sherman act makes it unlawful to monopolize, attempt to monopolize or conspire to monopolize. The Sherman Act can be found at 15 U.S.C. §§1-7.
The Sherman Antitrust Act is a Federal law prohibiting any contract, trust, or conspiracy in restraint of interstate or foreign trade. The Sherman Act also provides that no person shall monopolize, attempt to monopolize or conspire with another to monopolize interstate or foreign trade or commerce.