Essay on Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1. This film is saying the American democracy can be easily corrupted. The film portrays that it takes strong, determined men with much integrity to stand up for what they know is right.

In the novel Montana 1948, by Larry Watson, we witness this through the eyes of David a 12 year old narrator, the sickness and death of his beloved caretaker Marie Little Soldier by the doing of his Uncle Frank whom he has always looked up to. An important character central to the story is David’s father Wesley the sheriff of Bentrock who is brave, courageous, conflicted and, protective of his family. A message Wesley helps us understand a thought-provoking message that it is difficult to choose between family and doing the right thing.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a film about an average man’s journey and experience in Congress as Senator of Mississippi.

“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” Mr. Smith was too naive to survive as a senator during the time the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” took place. Mr. Smith’s naiveté was most evident in his ambitious proposal to start a national boys camp. However, when false allegations regarding Mr. Smith’s motives for starting the camp surfaced, Smith was too idealistic to defend himself from the political machine that accused him of acting in self-interest. Making matters worse, Senator Smith was a genuinely honest and simple-minded man, making it difficult for him to survive among his scheming colleagues.

This informative book that the author, Joanne Freeman, focuses on a constructive journey of providing a comprehensive re-examination of the political culture that was exhibited in the historical orientation of American. The text has revealed an overwhelming unstable and a strange political world that is founded on the values of a code of honor and this has been achieved by exploring different materials that had focused on both the private and public figures. Relevant information explored are from key figures found in the history of America, including Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr, which Freeman has utilized in building a strong argument on the subject of the book (Freeman, 2002).

In June of 1950, Margaret Chase Smith gave a speech addressed to the president and to the senate, about the exploitation and dishonesty within the latter. She pointed out how through focusing on the “winning” and “losing” of politics and less of the greater good made the Senate to be more corrupt and paranoid than functional. The writing style she used to deliver this speech were subtle yet effective, and included ethos/logos/pathos literary devices as well as repetition, contrast, allusion, and imagery. The tone she used as well, critical but patriotic, kind but firm, offers a sense of juxtaposition that works effectively and mirrors the contrast in her word choice. In these ways and more, the Declaration of Conscious is written in an extremely intelligent and artful manner.

David O. Stewart, by profession, is a lawyer with a resume that includes everything from arguing appeals at the Supreme Court level to serving as a law court to the acclaimed Junior Powell. But in writing The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution (specifically, I read the First Simon & Schuster trade paperback edition May 2008, copyrighted in 2007), he uses that experience in law to prove himself a gifted storyteller. Two hundred sixty-four pages long, this United States history nonfiction book does indeed have the substance to engage the reader throughout. It has special features that include two appendices featuring the elector system and the actual constitution of 1787, author’s notes, suggested further reading, acknowledgments and an index (which escalate the total length of the book to three hundred forty-nine pages long).

In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith is a prime example of the oppressed fighting against the oppressor by his actions of minute resistance, giving his love to another, and joining a secret activists group.

In offering alternative interpretations of the origins of the Constitution, the author accomplishes his secondary purpose, to make the reader challenge what they know about the framing of the Constitution. Holton details the rebellion of the “Unruly Americans” against the state and national governments, using Adonijah Mathews as an ultimate example of the “common man.” Mathews’ views are presented in order to contrast the views of James Madison, whom it seems the author

Viewing the Constitution of the United States of America – one of America’s oldest documents - as another great beloved American classic may be demanding for almost anyone to do. Because of its old age and “unrelatable” content, the American Constitution remains a difficult thing for people of all professions, races, religions, and political views to read and enjoy just as much as any other novel. Thanks to the renowned Akhil Reed Amar, the average person’s perspective of the United States’ Constitution is altered and their knowledge of the work is expanded through the explanations provided in America’s Constitution: A Biography. By explaining not only the mentality of those who dreamed, drafted, and voted for the Constitution but also the desires of the founding fathers when creating a democracy as their choice of an ideal government for their country in a world full of monarchies, Amar is able to give readers insight on a piece that was not only relevant when it was created but is able to expand as society does. Amar creates a biography perfect for those who desire to know more about the foundations America was built on and its ability to adapt and evolve throughout the

In the current political climate, anything said against the government is deemed unpatriotic by certain areas of the culture. Patriotism is bandied about as a necessity by some, and derided completely by others. But what is true patriotism, and how necessary is it? The film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, made in 1939, was originally condemned for being unpatriotic as it showed the ugly side of American democratic politics at a time where democracies were falling all over Europe. However, the film presents a different view of patriotism that supports the most important part of democracy; the people. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington clearly demonstrates the failures and problems in American democracy, but paints protagonist Jefferson Smith as extremely patriotic, illustrating that patriotism is not a blind stubborn belief that a country is right all of the time, but a wholehearted passion for making said country a better place. This view of patriotism may have seemed critical in 1939, but the movie effectively shows how the citizens really are the most important part of a democracy, and how they can rail against political corruption to truly create a better country.

There are many individuals in American History, whom we as Americans regard for their courage and audacity in shaping our nation. We learn in our history classes the great accomplishments of our founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Ben Franklin. One other great founding father and our First President, George Washington was one whom we learned much about. We learn in school that he is as a prime example of leadership, citizenship, and overall individual achievement for his many contributions to our nation’s earliest struggles. But although we are taught that George Washington was this man of great disposition, no man is without his flaws. Many scholars have sought to enlighten individuals to these cracks in the Nation’s

Mr. Smith is portrayed as an honest man with strong opinions. He is the ideal politician in an ideal society. The film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington depicts a "reassuring image" that happens to be "an image of the past" (Wheeler). However, in today's legislature, people like Mr. Smith are rare due to the fact that a politician's primary goal is re-election. The good of the people may come as another intention of a politician, but it is always secondary to "bringing home the pork." There should be more people like Mr. Smith because the legislature would be able to make decisions more effectively and efficiently, rather than how slowly they currently operate. This is an unfortunate truth, yet it is how our society has been shaped to operate.

Stephen Ambrose’s “To America: Personal Reflections of a Historian” is a work of the author’s thoughts and reevaluation of his feelings and lectures toward American history. In the first chapter called “The Founding Fathers”, Stephen Ambrose discusses his viewpoints towards the founding fathers, Jefferson and Washington. The chapter shows his full acknowledgement of Jefferson’s and Washington’s dark past of their positions as slaveholders as well as highlighting some of their prejudices. However despite these unfortunate circumstances, he stresses the importance and value of these two historical individuals. He reminds the readers of their struggles, their hopes and dreams that had inspired future generations after them. He further commentates