Here's a breakdown of his life and actions:
Early Life and Career:
* Born in Edgefield, South Carolina, Brooks was a lawyer and planter.
* He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and the state Senate.
* He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1853.
The Sumner-Brooks Incident:
* In 1856, Sumner gave a fiery anti-slavery speech titled "The Crime Against Kansas" in the Senate.
* In this speech, Sumner harshly criticized pro-slavery Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina, who was a relative of Brooks.
* Brooks, believing Sumner's attack on Butler was an attack on the South, walked to Sumner's desk while he was sitting alone and beat him with a cane.
* Sumner was severely injured and unable to return to the Senate for three years.
Aftermath and Legacy:
* Brooks's attack was widely condemned in the North and defended in the South.
* He was expelled from the House of Representatives, but was later re-elected by his constituents.
* Brooks died in 1857, but the incident he orchestrated is considered a pivotal event in the lead-up to the Civil War. It highlighted the growing tensions between the North and South and symbolized the brutality and violence that could erupt over the issue of slavery.
Significance:
The Sumner-Brooks incident is a significant event in American history for the following reasons:
* It illustrated the rising tensions between the North and South over slavery.
* It demonstrated the willingness of Southerners to use violence to defend their interests.
* It further polarized political discourse and contributed to the escalating conflict.
Overall, Preston Brooks is remembered as a controversial figure who embodied the Southern defense of slavery and the escalating violence leading to the Civil War.