Preston Brooks was a politician from South Carolina, known for his role as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the mid-19th century. He served from 1853 to 1856 and was a strong advocate for slavery and states' rights, reflecting the views of many Southern Democrats of his time. Brooks gained notoriety in 1856 when he physically attacked Senator Charles Sumner on the Senate floor. This incident, which stemmed from a speech Sumner gave criticizing slavery, highlighted the intense sectional conflicts leading up to the American Civil War. Brooks' actions were both condemned and celebrated, illustrating the deep divisions in American society.