Question

The term laissez-faire refers to the government’s approach, in the 1890s, to

Answer 1

Laissez Faire: A Conservative Approach to the Industrial Revolution. Laissez faire (from the French, meaning to leave alone or to allow to do) is an economic and political doctrine that holds that economies function most efficiently when unencumbered by government regulation.

Answer 2

Answer:  the government's approach to economic policy affecting business

Further detail:

The terminology of "laissez-faire" has been used in economics since the 18th century Enlightenment era.  "Laissez-faire" is French for "let do."  You can think of it as letting the economy do its own thing, without governments trying to interfere with it or control it.  This was an idea promoted by the Physiocrats in 18th century France.  They called themselves "Physiocrats" (those who believed in "rule by nature") because they thought trade and commerce should be allowed to proceed naturally.

The Scottish philosopher Adam Smith picked up on this idea also and promoted a capitalist economy in opposition to what he called a "mercantilist" economy where governments gave monopolies to certain merchants and tried to control business affairs.  

The 1890s approach in America meant a pro-business stance by the government, wanting to get government out of the way of businesses and free them of regulations.