1. Tennessee becomes a state

April 1st marks the anniversary of when Tennessee became the 16th state in the United States. On this day in 1796, Tennessee was admitted to the Union as a free state, allowing it to enjoy full representation in Congress and participate in the political life of the country.

2. The Battle of Shiloh begins

On April 1, 1862, the Civil War Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war with Union forces led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant meeting Confederates commanded by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. Over the course of the two days, the battle resulted in approximately 24,000 casualties.

3. Tennessee passes the 19th Amendment

On April 1, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final state to ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. In August of that same year, the amendment was officially adopted.

4. The Great Train Wreck of 1918

On April 1, 1918, the Great Train Wreck of 1918 occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, when two passenger trains collided head-on, resulting in the deaths of at least 101 people and injuring hundreds more. It remains one of the deadliest train disasters in U.S. history.

5. Andrew Johnson inaugurated

On April 1, 1865, Andrew Johnson, a Tennessee politician, was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. Just weeks later, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Johnson became President, making him the first president from Tennessee.