1. Kansas was officially declared a state on April 1, 1861. However, due to the outbreak of the Civil War soon after, Kansas did not become fully recognized as a state by the federal government until January 29, 1861.
2. On April 1, 1970, the 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. This eventually led to an increase in youth activism and political engagement in Kansas and across the country.
3. Topeka, Kansas experienced a major tornado outbreak on April 1, 1963, that caused significant damage and at least four fatalities. The tornadoes were stronger than usual for early spring, with one reaching a rating of F4 on the Fujita scale.
4. In 1875, two young women in Kansas City pranked their friends by sending out invitations to a fake party at a nonexistent address on April 1. Over 1,500 people showed up, causing chaos in the streets. The pranksters later apologized and paid for any damages caused.
5. On April 1, 1912, the city of Wichita passed an ordinance prohibiting gambling. This was a response to the growing number of saloons and gambling houses in the city, which some officials felt were contributing to crime and other social problems. The ordinance remained in effect until the 1980s.