The film, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is an great example of what is going in the politics back then and today too. Some characters in the film are Jefferson Smith- Young Senator and the main character, Clarissa Saunders- Smith’s Assistant, Joseph Paine- Senior Senator, Jim Taylor- Political Boss, Gov. Hopper- Governor, Chick McGann- Taylor’s Assistant and Diz Moore- Newspaper Reporter and Saunders friend. The film shows how Taylor, Paine and other guys are treating Mr. Smith and how corrupted they are. In the end, Mr. Smith proves that he haven’t done anything wrong and proves it. The result made Paine and Taylor mad and were found guilty. Throughout the film, we can learn lesson that nothing can be kept hidden, like corruption and making false case about others. In the end, the film shows that once Mr. Smith proves that he is clear and isn’t …show more content…
There are few scenes from the film which proves that the film is still applicable and relevant today. One of the example from the film is, when Mr. Smith is appealing and trying to prove that he hasn’t done anything. Mr. Smith was speaking from about last seven hours and taking the stage slowly. One of the member says to take a break and give more explanation next morning because it was already midnight. Mr.Smith asks the Speaker of the House and he says once he stops talking today, he won’t get the stage back in the morning. And so thats why Mr.Smith refuses to take break and continous to talk. So this is one of the example from the movie, it relates to today and what we learned in the class. In our class we learned the same characteristics that once you take a break, you don’t get the floor or chance to speak back again. So the law hasn’t changed in many years and that is why the film is still applicable
His own cabinet had parted ways as Thomas Jefferson increasingly pulled away from the economic policies proposed by Alexander Hamilton, Washington in which supported most of them. In all, these controversies at the end of Washington’s public career, remind us of difficulties in his earlier military career in the 1750’s. Things were difficult even for the most outstanding of the Founding Fathers proving that they couldn’t go through life without difficulties. As admirable and essential as Washington was to the creation of the New United States, with qualities of a leader he had remained a person who could not appeal to everyone all of the time. Most fascinating of all, was that some of Washington’s most confidential qualities that made him so effective and efficient are also the ones that make Washington today unpopular. But Washington took a personal reserve and didn’t let the words of the other people cloud his
The main plot of the movie, Mr. Smith goes to Washington is a conflict between Jeff Smith, Senator Paine, and Jim Taylor. A senator of a state passed away causing a new senator needing to be appointed. Jim Taylor a local publicist who had pull around the Senate, pressured the governor to select Jefferson Smith. He was appointed as the new Senator of the State, because everyone thought that he was incompetent, naive, and would not get in their way. However when Smith passed a clever bill that got in the way of Jim Taylor’s scandal, Jim and Senator Paine tried to do whatever they could to get Jeffrey expelled from the Senate.
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.
George Washington Plunkitt was a complicated politician from New York in the 1900’s. He had his own questionable way of seeing what’s right and what’s wrong. Plunkitt’s Ideas of right a wrong sometimes seemed to be off. However, some of his ideas about things that needed to be reformed were as true then as they are now. Plunkitt seemed to be a man that knew how to get what he wanted out of people with very little effort. From the perspective of an outsider this could make him hard to trust, but to people then this wasn’t a problem.
From the film one can learn the importance of taking chances and making choices. The film also teaches us about disobedience. Are desobidance puts us at risk, but is important to do what we feel is right. The film also teaches the harsh reality's of war and how it can cause men to do terrible
The plot of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington spins, obviously, around the delay. In that time period, the Senate couldn't move onto different business if the delay was not determined - that is to say, the filibusters needed to really be talking keeping in mind the end goal to keep up the delay. This changed when Robert Byrd was Senate Majority Leader. Byrd (and his gathering) founded a "two-track" framework, changing the standards so that the Senate could desert the delayed movement and proceed onward to different business. This change was made in light of the fact that delays were seen as valuable, however excessively obstructionist, and Byrd felt the Senate required the adaptability to have the capacity to proceed onward to different things. In an unintended outcome, minorities of late have found that Byrd basically made it allowed to delay. In the event that
Ellis describes a heated House debate in 1790 where slavery was reluctantly addressed. Benjamin Franklin and James Madison’s reactions are discussed. Ellis recognizes that in this moment, compromise was absent and the divisions within the country were becoming increasingly conspicuous. Ellis emphasize that making slavery a non-issue eventually led to the Civil War. The next event described by Ellis was the publishing of George Washington’s Farewell Address. Ellis addresses Washington’s legacy and regard for future generations of America. In his next story, Ellis examines how the relationships of 1776 turned into more sensible collaborations that would mold American history. Ellis focuses mainly on the relationship between Jefferson and Adams as well as Adams’ collaboration with his wife, Abigail. In his final piece of evidence, Ellis tells the story of the extensive communication between Adams and Jefferson during the last fourteen years of their lives, restoring their lost friendship after a political betrayal.
This started the whiskey rebellion. This was first big test for the federal government; would it be able to enforce its own laws? Washington sent out a force of 13,000 militiamen to stop the rebellion. He arrested 150 Pennsylvanians and pardoned 2 people who were sentenced to death. This all ties in with Washington’s domestic policies: he didn’t view himself as better than the people but he still needed to be viewed and respected as a leader. This kept the nation together because it showed that Washington was a strong leader and was able to enforce the laws.
We always hear about Thomas Jefferson in our history classes, as one of the most influential American politicians at the time of the nation’s birth. Though, we don’t always take the time to understand why this is the case. Looking at what he accomplished as president and politician seems mind boggling. In my blog, I will discuss Thomas Jefferson’s major accomplishments, his leadership lessons, and criticisms of his actions.
Washington’s character as a good ruler cannot solely be based on the example of a single king; he must also be compared to bad kings to further emphasize his better qualities. Washington reflects opposite characteristics of Macbeth, a ruler who let ambition and the corruption of power overcome him. Macbeth became powerful by killing those in his way, and once in control, focused more on maintaining his power than he did on the kingdom. In Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth portrays this desire to take down anyone in his path when claiming, “I have no spur / to prick the sides of my intent, but only / vaulting ambition” (Macbeth, 1.7.25-27). Macbeth’s willingness to commit murder and treason in order to become King of Scotland demonstrates that too much ambition is a characteristic of a bad king. In contrast, Washington focused on putting the benefit of the country beyond his own power. When he voluntarily chose to step down from office rather than monopolizing the power as Macbeth had done, Washington puts the benefit of the people before his own (Ellis 122). However, some may argue that Washington’s decision was a selfish act, as the people were left without a good ruler, yet Washington meant the opposite. The resignation from office instead helped the country by teaching them “about how to sustain national unity and purpose, not just without him, but without a king” (Ellis 123). Thus, while some could argue that Washington hurt the
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.
Jefferson is a peculiar character in that the story is centred on his existence and, although his thoughts and opinions are seldom expressed, the lessons he learnt are completely unambiguous. As the tragic story goes, he is a very young black man unjustly condemned to death for a crime he did not commit. Furthermore, he is dehumanized in his defence when he is called a “hog” and this detrimentally affects his self esteem throughout a significant portion of the novel. However, this melancholic situation he is thrust into and his initial reaction to it is contrasted against his final moment which unashamedly reveals just how much he has learnt in his incarceration period. Jefferson, through the guidance of Grant, learns about the notion of dignity, a peculiarity that drives people towards the pinnacle of human
Discuss your views with other class members. What do you think are the film’s key themes and issues?
In his biography of America's founding father and first president, George Washington: The Patriot President, author William M. Thayer describes the heroic acts of leadership that Washington displayed while fighting in the American Revolution and during his two terms as President. Using a personal style that appeals to young readers, Thayer provides many glimpses into the private life of George Washington that give a better impression of the man behind one of history's most legendary figures. By tracing the path of Washington's incredible life, from his childhood farm on Mount Vernon to his participation in the French and Indian War of 1754, the author successfully recreates the key events in Washington's development. The book is filled with tales of Washington's bravery on the battlefield, his natural ability to lead men during both war and peace, and his fierce sense of patriotism in the face of British aggression. After reading George Washington: The Patriot President the lesson that greatness is earned through hard work and determination is made clear.