What+Caused+the+Civil+War?+ALB

Many people disagree over the cause of the American Civil War. The generic reason is the issue of slavery, but there are multiple other occurences that led up to the war and could have caused it. However, the point of no return is Charles Sumner being beaten with a cane by Preston Brooks in 1856. This instigated actual violence between the North and South.

Sumner was a senator from Massacusetts. Hewas a great speaker and used his talent to speak out against slavery. All of the South despised him. Especially when he asked for the Fugitive Slave Act the be repealed. However, the North loved how they now had a strong leader willing to speak openly about his hatred of slavery.

In one of Sumner's speeches he openly insulted Brooks's relative. This angered Brooks so one day when Sumenr was in the Senate Chamber he went and started to beat him with the metal head of a cane. Sumner was beaten so badly that he was forced to go live in Europe for a number of years for rehab.

Even though Brooks had done this awful thing and Sumenr was in rehab, both were re-elected into the senate. Southerners were so supportive of Brooks that many of them sent him new canes. The Northerners re-elected Sumner hoping that his empty chair would symbolize freedom of speech and speaking out against slavery.

This extreme act of violence against Sumner was too personal for the North. They were mad and something would have to give.