Historedia
Person

Charles Sumner

Events
3
Episodes
8
Years
1856–1883

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Charles Sumner, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Bleeding Kansas: Sacking of Lawrence, Caning of Sumner, Pottawatomie massacre and Battle of Black Jack

    1856

    Role: Senator from Massachusetts

    1. May 21, 1856 · Lawrence, KansasSacking of Lawrence

      Pro-slavery settlers led by Sheriff Samuel J. Jones attacked and ransacked Lawrence, Kansas, on May 21, 1856.

    2. May 22, 1856 · United States Senate chamberCaning of Charles Sumner

      Representative Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in the Senate chamber on May 22, 1856.

    3. May 24-25, 1856 · Kansas TerritoryPottawatomie Massacre

      John Brown's followers killed five homesteaders in Franklin County, Kansas, on the night of May 24-25, 1856.

    4. June 2, 1856 · Black Jack, KansasBattle of Black Jack

      Antislavery forces led by John Brown defeated pro-slavery forces near Black Jack, Kansas, on June 2, 1856.

  2. United States Civil Rights Act of 1875

    1875–1883

    Role: Original Drafter

    1. February 1875 · United States CapitolPassage of the Civil Rights Act

      The 43rd Congress passed the bill in February 1875 as a memorial to Senator Charles Sumner, who had died in 1874.

    2. October 15, 1883 · Supreme CourtSupreme Court Ruling

      In 1883, the Supreme Court declared the public accommodation sections of the act unconstitutional in the Civil Rights Cases.

  3. US Supreme Court strikes down part of the Civil Rights Act of 1875

    1883

    Role: Senator (as referred to in the cited passage)

    1. 1883 · Supreme Court of the United StatesHarlan Dissent

      Justice Harlan dissented, arguing the Act was a constitutional use of Congress' authority under the Thirteenth Amendment.

    2. 1883-10-15 · Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court Decision

      The Supreme Court ruled in an 8-1 decision that public accommodation sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 were unconstitutional.

Sources

  1. Caning of Charles Sumner Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-24
  2. Bleeding Kansas Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-04
  3. Civil Rights Act of 1875 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-02-05
  4. Civil Rights Cases Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-08