Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Sparknotes

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Analysis Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is an inspirational and comedic take on American politics. The film centers around Jeff Smith, a Boy’s Club leader similar to a Boy Scout troop leader, that is appointed to the U.S. Senate after one of his state’s representatives dies. Smith is chosen because a corrupt businessman and political boss, Jim Taylor, advises Governor Hopper to appoint someone who will listen to commands. Taylor and the state’s other senator, Joseph Paine, are trying to pass a bill through Congress that involves a provision for building a dam on a creek in Paine and Smith’s home state. Taylor has been buying land around the dam’s site for next to nothing, in hopes of turning it for an immense profit …show more content…

and takes his oath of office. Paine advises Smith to write a bill, to show his commitment to serving the people after a small fiasco with the press misrepresenting Smith. Smith decides to create a bill establishing a national camp for boys that would use money lent by the government and paid back through donations from attendees of the camp. The site for the camp, unknown to Smith, is on the same area that Taylor’s dam is supposed to be built. Smith finds out, and Taylor attempts to quiet him. Smith decides to attempt to bring Taylor and Paine’s corruption to light, but is interrupted by Paine on the Senate floor. Paine accuses Smith of buying land where the boys camp is to be built so he can sell it for profit, essentially dumping Taylor’s scheme on Smith. Smith is investigated by a committee, in which Taylor has lined up false witnesses to attest to the alleged, and untrue, dealings of Mr. Smith. After receiving a recommendation of expulsion, Smith is allowed the floor to address the Senate one last time, an idea given to him by his secretary, Clarissa Saunders. Smith launches into a filibuster, hoping to stall for long enough so his constituents can rally support for his cause. Taylor, however, uses his connections to spread propaganda against

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