The Caning of Charles Sumner
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Questions and Answers

What metaphor did Charles Sumner use to describe southern interference in Kansas?

  • The rape of a virgin Territory (correct)
  • The twisting of a vine
  • The burning of a village
  • The plundering of a sacred ground

    • What was the main grievance stated by Sumner against Andrew Butler?

  • He believed in the institution of slavery. (correct)
  • He represented a rival state.
  • He was too aggressive in his policies.
  • He misled the public about the Kansas situation.

    • Which code did Preston Brooks adhere to when taking action against Sumner?

  • A code of honor common among the plantation elite (correct)
  • A code of non-violence and peace
  • A code of silence in political matters
  • A code of friendship and loyalty

    • How did Preston Brooks perceive Sumner's speech?

    <p>As an affront to his honor and the institution of slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Sumner doing when Brooks approached him in the Senate chamber?

    <p>Writing letters at his desk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Brooks wait for before attacking Sumner?

    <p>The departure of a few ladies present</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of punishment did Brooks intend to impose on Sumner?

    <p>A more humiliating punishment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did southern lawmakers generally view Sumner's rhetoric after his speech?

    <p>As incendiary and offensive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the immediate consequence of Preston Brooks’ assault on Charles Sumner?

    <p>Brooks was celebrated by Southern newspapers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Sumner's status in Congress following his injuries?

    <p>He was unable to attend sessions for three years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After his resignation, how was Brooks viewed by his district?

    <p>They unanimously reelected him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which political party gained support as a result of the incident between Sumner and Brooks?

    <p>Republican Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What sentiment did some Democrats express regarding the extension of slavery after the incident?

    <p>Some were willing to let slavery extend if it wasn’t aggressive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What rationale did Southern newspapers provide in response to Brooks’ actions?

    <p>They encouraged further acts of violence against abolitionists.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What position did Massachusetts politicians take regarding Sumner's vacant chair in the Senate?

    <p>They decided to keep it empty as a reminder of his struggle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Sumner's injuries influence his political stance?

    <p>He pushed for more radical treatment of the South.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What prompted Preston Brooks to attack Charles Sumner?

    <p>A speech given by Sumner that insulted South Carolina and Justice Butler</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the result of Brooks's attack on Sumner?

    <p>Sumner was seriously injured but survived</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What justification did Brooks provide for his actions after the attack?

    <p>He felt obligated to avenge the insult on Butler's behalf</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the South's perceptions of Brooks's actions manifest in the aftermath of the attack?

    <p>Southerners compared the beating to punishment deserved by a disobedient slave</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Brooks's prediction regarding the consequences he might face from Congress after the incident?

    <p>Congress could not muster the votes to expel him</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which physical condition did Brooks possess that was described in the account?

    <p>He walked with a limp due to a previous injury</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What action did Sumner attempt during Brooks's attack?

    <p>He sought to escape but was trapped in his desk</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Brooks claim about the number of strikes he delivered to Sumner?

    <p>He mentioned delivering about 30 strikes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Caning of Charles Sumner

    • Preston Brooks, a representative from South Carolina, physically assaulted Charles Sumner, a senator from Massachusetts, in the Senate chamber on May 22, 1856.
    • Brooks used a cane to beat Sumner repeatedly, leaving him unconscious and severely injured.
    • Sumner's speech on May 19 and 20, 1856, condemned the pro-slavery forces in Kansas and the Fugitive Slave Act.
    • Sumner's speech attacked Senator Andrew P. Butler of South Carolina, a relative of Brooks, and the state of South Carolina in general.
    • Brooks's attack was a direct response to Sumner's speech, motivated by a defense of Southern honour and the institution of slavery.
    • Sumner, in his speech, had likened the pro-slavery forces in Kansas to rapists and compared the South to a "harlot."
    • Southern newspapers praised Brooks's actions, viewing the incident as a justifiable response to abolitionist rhetoric.
    • The assault on Sumner galvanized the North and fueled the growth of the Republican Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery.
    • Sumner's injuries kept him out of the Senate for three years, but he was re-elected in his absence.
    • Brooks was censured by the House of Representatives but escaped expulsion.
    • He resigned his seat but was re-elected by his constituents.
    • Brooks died in 1858, and Sumner's prolonged absence from the Senate became a symbol of the violence perpetrated by the pro-slavery South.

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    The Caning of Charles Sumner PDF

    Description

    Explore the historical incident of May 22, 1856, when Senator Charles Sumner was brutally assaulted by Congressman Preston Brooks in the Senate. This act of violence stemmed from heated political tensions surrounding slavery and Sumner's outspoken condemnation of pro-slavery forces. Dive into the details of the speech that provoked Brooks and the broader implications of this event in American history.

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