Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt:

What is the ideal America portrayed in the film and the readings, and how is this reflected in the idea that the United States is exceptional? In what ways does the reality fall short of this ideal? Be sure to discuss some aspect(s) of contemporary American politics in the essay -- in other words, apply what you get out of the film and reading to an analysis of American politics.

 

OR

 

Consider the following and comment on the idea that " 'America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed. That creed is set forth with dogmatic and even theological lucidity in the Declaration of Independence'...the nation's ideology can be described in five words: liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire." (From Seymour Martin Lipset, American Exceptionalism, 1996).


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