What did the number of corporations grow in the late 1800s?

The late 1800s saw a significant increase in the number of corporations due to the rise of industrialization and the expansion of the American economy. Advances in technology, transportation, and communication facilitated the growth of large-scale businesses, which required substantial capital investments. The introduction of limited liability laws encouraged investors to finance these corporations, as they could protect their personal assets from business debts. This led to the formation of powerful corporate entities that played a crucial role in shaping the U.S. economy.