1. On April 4, 1783, Massachusetts became the first state to recognize the United States flag with 13 stars and stripes. This version of the flag was later known as the "Betsy Ross flag" and is still used as a symbol of early American history.

2. On April 4, 1825, John Quincy Adams took office as the sixth President of the United States. Adams was born in Massachusetts and served as a congressman, senator, and diplomat before his presidency.

3. On April 4, 1854, the Massachusetts Republican Party was founded in Worcester. This event marked the beginning of the Republican Party's rise to national prominence and had a significant impact on American politics.

4. On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. This event had a profound impact on the civil rights movement and sparked riots and protests throughout the country, including in Massachusetts.

5. On April 4, 2013, Massachusetts passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage. With this decision, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage, setting a precedent for other states to follow.