1. In 1775, Caesar Rodney, a delegate from Delaware, made his famous ride to Philadelphia to cast the deciding vote in favor of American independence from Great Britain.

2. On July 5, 1831, the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal opened, connecting the Chesapeake Bay to the Delaware River and providing a vital transportation link for commerce and industry.

3. During the Civil War, on July 5, 1864, Union forces under General William H. Morris fought a successful engagement against Confederate forces at the Battle of Red House.

4. On July 5, 1937, the DuPont Company introduced nylon, a synthetic fiber that revolutionized the textile industry and spawned a new era of synthetic materials.

5. In 2012, Delaware legalized same-sex marriage on July 5, becoming the 11th state in the nation to do so. This followed earlier efforts to establish civil unions and domestic partnerships.