1. In 1819, Alabama was admitted as the 22nd state in the United States. The state's admission was seen as a crucial moment in the expansion of the country, as it marked the first state to be formed in the Deep South.

2. In 1895, Booker T. Washington delivered a speech at the Tuskegee University commencement ceremony. The speech, known as the "Atlanta Compromise," called for African Americans to temporarily put aside their demands for civil rights in exchange for vocational and educational opportunities.

3. In 1961, the Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists, were attacked by a mob in Anniston, Alabama. The incident, which involved the burning of one of the group's buses, drew national attention and highlighted the dangers faced by those fighting for racial equality in the South.

4. In 1970, the University of Alabama was desegregated when Vivian Malone and James Hood, two African American students, enrolled with the help of federal marshals. The event marked an important moment in the civil rights movement and helped pave the way for greater equality in education.

5. In 2019, Alabama passed a controversial law banning nearly all abortions. The law, which was later blocked by a federal judge, sparked widespread debate and protests across the country. It also drew attention to the ongoing battle over reproductive rights in the United States.