What happened to Congressman Preston Brooks after he attacked Senator Charles Sumner?

A. Brooks stayed in office despite objections and was re-elected.
B. Brooks spent the rest of his life in prison in Washington, DC.
C. Brooks resigned from office but was promptly re-elected.
D. Brooks resigned from office in disgrace and left the country.

The answer isn't (B) I only know because I have gotten it incorrect recently.

Respuesta :

A. Brooks only ended up paying a $300 fine and continued with his job.
(This happened on my birthday, so the subject rather interested me.)
vaduz

Answer:

C. Brooks resigned from office but was promptly re-elected.

Explanation:

Congressman Preston Brooks was a staunch supporter of the slavery system who was notorious for his "canning" of Republican Senator Charles Sumner. This event brought about a huge outbreak of the 'racial' issue that has been brewing between the North and the South.

Senator Sumner made a speech title "The Crime Against Kansas" which was sort of a personal tirade against Senator Andrew Butler, a distant cousin of Senator Brooks. In an attempt of defending the honor of his relative, Brooks went to Sumner's office and began to attack Sumner with a gold-tipped cane. But even though it was an inappropriate behavior for the Senator, he was given a mere fine of $300. And even though he resigned from his office, he was immediately re-elected and restored, for he was hailed a hero in the Southern states.