How does the film "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" depict machine politics/corruption, and how does it violate American ideals?

In the film, corruption is shown in a number of ways.  First of all, the way that Mr. Smith gets into Congress is corrupt.  He is chosen by machine bosses who want someone in Congress who will obey them.  Second, you can see it in how the machine frames Mr. Smith, claiming that he owns the land that he is trying to put the camp on.  They do it because they want the land for a corrupt deal they have going on dam construction.

These kinds of things violate American ideals because we believe that our political leaders should be elected by the people and should not use their offices to make themselves rich.  Political machines took government out of the hands of the people and used it for the benefit of the machine bosses.