By definition, a monopoly is exclusive control of a good or service in a particular market, or control that makes price manipulation possible (Monopoli 2012). Individuals are often afraid that a company or industry will become a monopoly because it would control too much market share and do whatever it wants; this includes raising prices, using excess capital to expand into even more areas (Rise of monopolies 1996). The market structure of a monopoly is characterized by; a single seller; a unique product; and impossible entry into the market (Tucker 2011). A monopoly can be a difficult thing to achieve since a single seller faces an entire industry demand curve as it constitutes the entire industry (Tucker 2011). A monopolist must sell a unique product and have extremely high barriers to entry to protect it from competition and maintain its market power as a monopoly (Tucker 2011). Monopolies affected American as well as foreign industries and devastated both people and other industries, but they also supported industries. The railroad industry of the early 19th century is probably the best-known case of monopoly in American industry. you see it in our elementary and high school history books. The Railroad was a booming success and quickly integrated into the American enterprise. With the rise of the Railroad, other large industries came into being that were used to build the Railroad, industries such as steel, copper, iron, glass, machine tools, and oil (Rise of monopolies 1996). To keep the Railroad running and expanding it was necessary for new industries to continue to thrive as well. The owners of the railways were afraid of the loss of pro... half of paper... and in business it is essential, even if it can be considered a monopoly, both of these companies did what every entrepreneur wants, which is to grow their own activities and be at the top of these sectors. Malicious dealings or not, ethical or not, both companies have ingeniously scaled their business to stay on top and protect their initial investments. Microsoft antitrust case cited by Works. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.uri.edu/personal/mdee4037/MainPage.htmlmonopoly. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from the Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/monopolyRise of monopolies. (1996, June 10). Retrieved from http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~eroberts/cs201/projects/corporate-monopolies/development.htmlTucker, I. B. (2011). Economy for today. (7 ed.). Mason, Ohio: Southwest Cengage Learning.