In social studies class we watched the movie Mr.Smith Goes to Washington. This movie was described as “Frank Capra's classic comedy-drama established James Stewart as a lead actor in one of his finest (and most archetypal) roles” by rotten tomatoes. This movie displayed how the government was and somewhat still is corrupt. The corrupters make a mistake by appointing a new senator who is naive but determined.
Senator Samuel Foley dies in the middle of the night so they have to appoint a new senator as soon as possible. They go through a few people but when Governor Hubert Happy Hopper gets home his kids strongly suggest Jefferson Smith. Jefferson Smith was the leader of the state’s Boy Rangers. After some long conversations (arguments) they
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a wonderful film about a man Jeff Smith (James Stewart) who believes that children are the future and should be able to enjoy the outdoors, while taking in knowledge of their great Country. When a senator dies in Smith's state, the governor is forced into an awkward position of electing the new senator. While the governor is sitting down to dinner, his young children propose the idea of Jeff Smith who is head of the Boy Rangers and prints a weekly newspaper for the local children. Mr. Smith is elected into office in the funniest way, a coin toss. When Mr. Smith arrives in Washington with his colleague Mr. Pain, (Claude Rains) he is amazed by all the greatness that Washington possesses. After being sworn into the Senate Mr. Smith comes up with idea to propose a Bill that would let boys come together and enjoy the wilderness, and the perfect spot would be in his home town next to a creek. What he doesn't know is that his colleague Mr. Pain has his own plans with that same land. The film then releases the full fury of what corrupt politicians can do to a truthful man. The plot of the film will grab the viewer within the first five minutes and will not let go until the astonishing end. Even though this type of thing is implausible it's still very funny and unique in its own way. The acting was superb! James Stewart will always represent the good guy trying to make his way
Throughout the second chapter Levin states that there is a very small turnover in Congress and each time that election time comes into play, most of the same people are elected for position (Levin 19-32). He believes that while term limits are not enough to balance the power of the governing systems it is a step in the right direction and are necessary and a critical building block (Levin 22). In his next chapter Levin proposes an amendment that is to restore the Senate (Levin 33). This amendment would repeal the seventeenth amendment and make it to where all Senators are chosen by their state legislatures as prescribed by Article I (Levin 33). Prior to the seventeenth amendment the Senate had been chosen by legislators of each state (Levin 34). Throughout the chapter he goes on to talk about how the Framers of our nation intended the Senate to be chosen and also how we have branched away from that. He discusses several different people’s opinions on how it should be ran and also how it should be managed. He states that John Dickinson made a notion that the Senate should be chosen by the state legislatures (Levin
1, 2) This man is appointed by the state Governor, Governor Hopper, when one of the Senators from Mississippi unexpectedly dies. 3) Jefferson Smith is chosen as an alternative when the Governor, influenced by a politically corrupt man named Jim Taylor, and the public disagree on which man should be appointed
With themes of vengeance and heroes and villains, 'Mean Creek' is a story told with a series of complex layers. When the shy Sam confides in his protective older sibling, Rocky, about the bully in school named George, Rocky and his friends devise a plan to humiliate and exact their revenge on his brother's tormentor during a boating trip. When their plan goes too far, they must deal with the unexpected consequences of their actions. Portrayed by Josh Peck, the complex personality traits of character George Tooney is apparent in this film, where the audience forms conflicting opinions on him. Clever film techniques are used to shift the power of the characters and the audience’s emotions to determine whether he is a bully or not.
However, Senator Smith was determined to introduce his bill despite the grim prospects of its ratification, and refused to step back and take a passive role in the Senate. Historically, however, Senators in Smith’s time and position would not have taken on such an ambitious project as a new Senator.
Senate Historical Office. “About the Senate Committee System”. Senate.gov, September, 2002. Web. Feb. 25, 2012.
Ulysses Simpson Grant, the 18th President of the United States of America, was a significant influence on American history. Throughout his life, he always felt an exceptional commitment to the American military. This man helped the Union defeat the Confederates in the American Civil War and contributed to Americans during the Reconstruction time period, in hopes that America would be a fully industrialized nation. Grant displays many important military and political leadership roles in American society.
Mr. Smith was appointed to be a Senator on a whim. He was the leader of the Boy Rangers with no political experience. He was principled with a clear view on right and wrong. Mr. Smith took his ideals as far as risking his career when he did not compromise in order to maintain his beliefs. In addition, special interest groups did not impact Mr. Smith's decisions. He was untouched by the corruption that he learned existed in the legislature. Yet upon discovering it, he did not change himself. Mr. Smith did not place any emphasis on re-election and did not care if people thought negatively about him as long as he remained with his values.
John Adams Biography John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 and died on July 4, 1826. He was the second president of the United States. He served from 1797 to 1801. Earlier, he served as the first vice president of the United States. John Adams was a statesman, a diplomat, and a leading advocate of American independence from Great Britain.
As a freshman Congressman, and Speaker of the House, Henry Clay pushed the limits and increased the power of the position, making it the second only to the president. Henry Clay’s initial acts as speaker were a premonition of his politica...
Willie Stark-He becomes a treasurer of Mason City and from there his political career takes flight. After becoming a treasurer Stark decides to study law and become a lawyer. After he receives some success he runs for governor and becomes a power-hungry politician.
After all these years since the United States was born no one has forgotten the name George Washington. George Washington help the united states gain its independence. That wasn't all after we one independence George Washington was elected the first U.S. president. I believe that George Washington was the best president because he was our first its because of him how we are today even though the U.S. is going through a rough patch right now he left a great name for the United States Of America. George Washington was the right man for the job.
...ted for Adams as the new president. When Adams was inaugurated, he chose Henry Clay as his Secretary of State. In Adams diary, it was recorded that Clay met Adams for dinner. Adams said that they had discussed the opportunities of Clay and Adams cooperating. This was obviously a corrupt act on both parts. While some historians say that this is just how politics works, nobody ever said politics then or now wasn’t corrupt. This was corruption. (ushistory.org) (Adderson)
77 years ago in 1939, a movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” was released. This movie still remains to be a very relevant film, because it depicts the corruption within the political system that still exists today.
In 1773, Phillis Wheatley introduced controversy to her insight in politics and her slavery through poetry. The poem “To his Excellency General Washington”, shows the dedication that Wheatley proposed to politics and the problems of the America. Wheatley anticipates the future of this war that the new world is in to break away from the British. She shows the strength and triumph of the new world before the outcome of this war. This proposed Wheatley as a groundbreaker to poetry and the freedom in the new world fighting for independence. Wheatley’s poems and her personal struggle of slavery intertwine to her overall goal of each poem. This demonstrates the bold stand and positioning that Wheatley took to as an African American female poet. Wheatley exhibits her struggle of being
There are many accurate depictions of the political process in this movie, but there are also some areas where this movie was just being a people pleaser. The American President accurately portrayed the rolls of the media, the effects of polling, the impact of primaries, and it showed the process of introducing a bill to congress. However, it also was being a typical Hollywood movie at times. This was mostly true in the cases where the President came off being naïve, when he through caution into the wind for a girlfriend, and at other times, like when he was to dignified to join into the smear campaign.