During the Industrial Age, what role did the US government play in American industrialization?

Despite the fact that many presidents during the "Gilded Age" of industrialization and captains of industry are referred to as the forgotten presidents, the government played a big role in facilitating and promoting industry. First, it is important to realize that government during the Gilded Age did not serve the same functions as today. It was perfectly acceptable, and commonly expected, that the government would have a hands-off or "laissez-faire" approach. There was little regulation, and businesses were largely allowed to consolidate power into what today would be known as monopolies. When the government did get involved, it was often on behalf of these monopolies. When railroad workers went on strike in 1877, President Hayes sent in federal troops to break up the strike. In 1893 Congress passed the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, but until the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt it was largely used against labor unions instead of against trusts and monopolies. The government also granted large tracts of land to railroad companies in the West.