1. The Missouri Compromise was signed on April 2, 1820, which allowed the U.S. Senate to admit Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, helping to temporarily ease tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the country.

2. The famous outlaw Jesse James was born on April 2, 1847, in Kearney, Missouri. He would go on to form the James-Younger Gang, which conducted numerous robberies and shootouts, becoming a notorious figure in the Wild West.

3. On April 2, 1875, Missouri passed the first child labor law in the United States, which prohibited the employment of children under the age of 14 in factories and mines. This law helped to improve working conditions for children and was eventually adopted by other states.

4. In 1917, the United States officially declared war on Germany and entered World War I. Many Missourians played a significant role in the war effort, including General John J. Pershing, who led the American Expeditionary Force.

5. The Gateway Arch, a symbol of St. Louis and Missouri, was dedicated on April 2, 1968. The 630-foot-tall monument stands on the west bank of the Mississippi River and is the tallest arch in the world. It commemorates the westward expansion of the United States and serves as a popular tourist attraction.