at home, roosevelt fought for all americans having a "square deal", meaning an equal chance for all americans to become successful. as part of his square deal, he regulated big businesses called trusts, and forced several of them to split up in several smaller companies. this should support competition, which he thought was important. roosevelt supported labor laws for the working class, required meat and drugs to be inspected, and protected the environment. he created several nature reserves. these ideas would influence later presidents to expand the government's role in the economy and to help ordinary workers. many in the republican party opposed him because of this, however.