Mr. Laubach - APUSH - The Caning of Charles Sumner by Preston Brooks (1856)

Guiding Questions:
1. What were the key events that led to the Caning of Charles Sumner, and why was Preston Brooks motivated to attack him?
2. What role did Charles Sumner’s speech, "The Crime Against Kansas," play in escalating tensions between the North and South?
3. How did the Northern public react to the attack on Sumner, and how did it influence the abolitionist movement?
4. Why was Preston Brooks celebrated in the South, and what does this reveal about sectional attitudes during this period?
5. How did the Caning of Charles Sumner symbolize the growing inability of North and South to resolve conflicts through dialogue?
6. What impact did this event have on the Republican Party, and how did it help solidify their platform?
7. How did Sumner’s injuries and prolonged absence from the Senate affect the perception of the attack and its broader implications?
8. Why is the Caning of Charles Sumner considered a significant precursor to the Civil War?