1. California Admitted to the US – On August 13, 1846, Commodore John D. Sloat raised the American flag at Monterey, California, officially claiming the territory for the United States. This act would eventually lead to California becoming the 31st state.

2. The Watts Riots – On August 13, 1965, one of the worst incidents of civil unrest in United States history took place in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The riots lasted for six days and resulted in 34 deaths, over 1,000 injuries, and more than $40 million in property damage.

3. Death of Alfred Hitchcock – On August 13, 1980, legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock passed away at his home in Bel Air, California. Hitchcock had a long and illustrious career, directing such iconic films as “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” and “The Birds.”

4. First Women’s Strike in America – On August 13, 1912, approximately 35,000 textile workers, mostly women and girls, went on strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts. This was the largest strike by women in American history at the time and helped to usher in a new era of labor activism.

5. Jerry Brown Becomes Governor Again – On August 13, 2011, Jerry Brown was sworn in as the governor of California for the third time. Brown had previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983, and again from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure, he worked on initiatives related to climate change, education, and criminal justice reform.