1. In 1861, Jefferson Davis resigned from the U.S. Senate to become the President of the Confederate States of America. This move was seen as a key moment in the lead up to the American Civil War.

2. In 1915, the first-ever transcontinental telephone conversation was made between New York City and San Francisco. This groundbreaking feat was made possible thanks to the efforts of Alexander Graham Bell, who had invented the telephone just a few decades prior.

3. In 1959, the first-ever commercial jetliner flight took place between New York City and Miami, Florida. This marked a major milestone in modern air travel and would pave the way for a whole new era of transportation.

4. In 1960, the Illinois State Legislature passed the Public Aid Code, which created a system of public assistance in the state. This represented a major step forward in the effort to provide vital support to vulnerable individuals and families.

5. In 2017, women's rights activists from across Illinois and the rest of the country converged on Chicago for the Women's March on Chicago. This event, which was part of a larger series of marches held across the U.S. in response to the inauguration of President Donald Trump, drew tens of thousands of participants and helped to kick off a new wave of activism for women's rights and social justice more broadly.