1. On July 19, 1864, the Battle of Athens was fought in McMinn County, Tennessee. A group of Union loyalists, who believed that the county government was corrupt and unfairly controlled by the Confederates, overthrew the local government in a gun battle. This event is also known as the "McMinn County War."

2. Tennessee became the 16th state to join the Union on July 19, 1796. This was a significant event in the history of the United States, as it marked the first state to be admitted after the original 13 colonies.

3. On July 19, 1878, the first meeting of the Tennessee Chautauqua was held in Monteagle, Tennessee. This educational event brought together speakers, performers, and teachers from across the country for a week of lectures, discussions, and cultural activities.

4. The Great Train Wreck of 1918 occurred on July 19 in Nashville, Tennessee. Two passenger trains collided head-on, resulting in a horrific disaster that killed 101 people and injured 171 others. It remains one of the deadliest train wrecks in American history.

5. The Tennessee Valley Authority was established on July 19, 1933, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The TVA was created to provide economic development and flood control for the Tennessee Valley region, which had been devastated by the Great Depression and regular flooding. Today, the TVA is a major provider of electricity and a steward of natural resources in the southeastern United States.