Preston Brooks: The Big Stick Diplomacy

Not all presidents were considered peace-loving, and sometimes their approaches like the “Big Stick Diplomacy” produced effective results. However, Preston Smith Brooks, although never a president, found his own way to implement his version of the big stick diplomacy. Arguments should be won with words and not violence, but some see that beating a message into somebody as the most effective method. Although the unbelievable situation appears mildly amusing to us now, the attack on Charles Sumner was more indicative of a vital period in history than other events. Thus, Preston Brooks and his effect on the time should be properly explored and examined. After all, there was much more to the man than his rise to infamy throughout history.
Brooks was born in South Carolina in 1819 and went to the South Carolina College in 1839, which is known as the University of South Carolina today. Despite his excellent grades, he faced many difficulties at school, from terrible attendance to his infamous duels. Eventually, he was expelled and never graduated from college (Puleo). He had attended law school and became involved with the Mexican War. In fact, he served as a captain in the Palmetto Regiment, establishing his role within United States history briefly (Gienapp). In 1853, he was elected as a representative in the House of Representatives. Less known was his brother, John Hampden Brooks, who entirely supported Preston Brooks’s decision in beating Charles Sumner. Later, through letters, John expressed his glee and his wholehearted support for his brother. Yet, in reality, the incident faced much more controversy nationwide. On May 22, 1856, Brooks briskly strode into the Senate chamber and began to beat Senator Charles Sumner violently with his cane (“Commentary on 1856”). As a Democrat, his views were mainly for slavery, typical of the time. To his credit, Brooks was known as a very moderate Democrat, one willing to compromise often with the other side and stressed the need for cooperation. Newspapers had attributed characteristics like being “considerate and kind” to Brooks’s character (Puleo). But