At the turn of the 20th century, many Americans had little faith in the presidency due to the former president's failure to work for the good of the people and the lack of responsibility and skill in foreign affairs. During Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, all of these problems were reversed and America was stable at home and powerful abroad. Roosevelt's political agenda was accomplished, an extremely impressive feat that many other presidents have been unable to accomplish. When evaluating his domestic agenda, his foreign policy, and his definition of the president's role in society, it becomes clear that Theodore Roosevelt was the most positively impactful president of the 20th century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In terms of domestic policy, Roosevelt had a very positive impact because he set the precedent of a strong president and enacted legislation that benefited all Americans. Roosevelt's domestic platform, known as the Square Deal, revolved around the goal of achieving economic and social justice. Probably the most important component of Roosevelt's domestic agenda was his environmentalism. One example in which Roosevelt demonstrated his environmentalism was the creation of the United States Forest Service. Before then there was no government agency dedicated exclusively to conservation. As the first environmentalist president, Roosevelt created a model for future presidents who pursued environmental reform. Environmental legislation became more important as time went on in American politics due to Roosevelt's efforts. Another defining aspect of Roosevelt's Square Deal was its focus on destroying trust. Roosevelt radically changed the relationship between big business and government during his presidency. His support of the Sherman Antitrust Act was revolutionary because no other president at the time had done anything similar. Although the act was seen as a paper tiger, it eventually led to the Clayton Antitrust Act which placed enormous restrictions on businesses. Roosevelt demonstrated that he was serious about attacking trusts by destroying the JP Morgan trust, the largest trust in America at the time. As a result, large corporations have been held accountable, which continues to remain relevant in current politics. Another way Roosevelt regulated business was through his support of the Elkins and Hepburn Acts, both of which affected railroad companies. The Elkins Act prevented railroad companies from giving discounts to their largest customers, which benefited large corporations. The Hepburn Act strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission, giving the agency the authority to set maximum prices for railroads. This weakened big business's hold on society and helped promote economic equality. In terms of foreign policy, Roosevelt asserted American dominance, a concept that previous presidents had not implemented. Perhaps Roosevelt's greatest foreign policy achievement was gaining access to the Panama Canal. After gaining access to the canal, trade increased dramatically because shipping times decreased making the trade much more profitable. The acquisition of the Panama Canal still has huge implications for the American economy, as many shipping companies use it to move their products quickly and effectively. No other president has made a business acquisition that created immediate growth and simultaneously created a path.