Hello and welcome to this day in esoteric political history from Radiotopia.

My name is Jody Abergan.

This day, May 19, 1856, the Caning of Charles Sumner, inside the U.S. Senate Chamber.

This was in the heat of the debate over slavery

Sumner an abolitionist from Massachusetts had given a fiery anti-slavery speech

that also got a little personal towards Preston Brooks, a representative

from South Carolina.

A couple days later, Brooks approached Sumner and beat him severely with his cane.

Lots to talk about here about civility and violence and this moment in American history so I'm

joined as always by Nicole Hammer of Columbia. Hello Nicky.

Hey Jody how's it going? Pretty good and our guest for the next two episodes

is historian Joanne Freeman one of our favorite historians you may know her from the podcast and radio show backstory and the

Hamilton documentary and lots of other things Joanne welcome to this day in Esselturk political history.

Hi guys.

Joanne, let me throw this to you.

I would argue that this is perhaps the most well-known, little-known moment

in American political history.

Like everyone who thinks they know one obscure thing

about American political history, it's this thing.

So put this in perspective for us in terms of the sweep of American history.

How obscure of a moment is this or has entered official trivial pursuit territory?

Maybe both. Maybe it's trivial pursuit and people know about it because I think you're

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