The attack on Charles Sumner by Preston Brooks in 1856 was deeply rooted in the cultural divide between the North and South over issues like slavery. Brooks, a Southern congressman, viewed Sumner's anti-slavery speech as an affront to Southern honor and values, reflecting the intense regional pride and the belief in defending one's reputation through violent means. In contrast, Sumner's Northern audience saw his assault as a brutal manifestation of the South's refusal to engage in civil discourse, highlighting the widening chasm in attitudes toward governance and morality between the two regions. This incident symbolized the escalating tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
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