1. In 1780, a French fleet commanded by Admiral de Grasse arrived at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, to aid American forces in the Revolutionary War. The arrival of the French fleet played a crucial role in securing the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown.

2. In 1860, construction began on the first transcontinental telegraph line in New Jersey. The line stretched from New York to San Francisco and allowed for instantaneous communication between the East and West coasts for the first time in history.

3. On August 11, 1964, Newark, New Jersey experienced a riot that would become one of the deadliest and most destructive in American history. The riot lasted for six days and resulted in 26 deaths, hundreds of injured, and millions of dollars in property damage.

4. In 1971, New Jersey Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. introduced a bill to Congress that would eventually become the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill aimed to provide equal access to public accommodations, transportation, and employment for individuals with disabilities.

5. On August 11, 1995, the first Internet-based auction platform, eBay, went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The company's stock price skyrocketed over the next few years, and eBay became one of the most successful online marketplaces in history.