The federal government allowed monopolies to operate freely during the Gilded Age because of the belief that

During the Gilded Age, the federal government often followed a laissez-faire approach, meaning it limited its interference in business. Many people believed that large businesses and monopolies helped the economy grow through investment and industrial expansion. The best answer is “monopolies were helping the economy grow”; this does not mean monopolies necessarily treated workers well or preserved competition.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.