Roosevelt also transformed the role of the federal government and redefined the American Presidency as he believed a president should actively address the nation's problems and try to improve the life of a citizen. He argues in his “New Nationalism” speech that the judiciary should be primarily interested in human welfare and not property, just as how the representative body should represent everyone and not just one class or section of people(AmericanYawp). This philosophy led him to expand executive power and increase the federal government’s involvement in national issues. Roosevelt also played an important role in foreign affairs by supporting Panama’s independence from Colombia and overseeing the construction of the Panama Canal. The Canal eventually resulted in conflict between the U.S. and Panama as the people of Panama felt the U.S. control of the Canal as a violation of their national sovereignty. However, at the time it was considered a major foreign policy achievement that strengthened international trade and increased the influence of the United States around the world(Office of the Historian).In addition, he supported consumer protection legislation such as the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which increased federal oversight of food and consumer products. Through these reforms, Roosevelt strengthened the federal government’s ability to protect citizens and promote the public good. Before Roosevelt’s presidency, many presidents took a more limited approach to Presidency, but his leadership established the expectation that presidents should take an active role in solving national problems.