1. In 1812, the first major battle of the War of 1812 took place near Fort Dearborn in what is now Chicago. The Potawatomi Indians attacked and killed nearly all of the soldiers and civilians at the fort, including women and children.

2. In 1857, the Illinois State Agricultural Society held its first annual fair in Freeport. The fair was a celebration of the state's agricultural industry and featured livestock shows, vegetable and fruit displays, and other exhibits.

3. In 1921, the Ku Klux Klan held a rally in Northlake, Illinois. The rally was attended by thousands of Klan members, who marched through the streets and burned crosses. The event was met with widespread condemnation from local and national leaders.

4. In 1999, a tornado struck the town of Salt Creek, Illinois, killing 2 people and destroying dozens of homes and businesses. The tornado was part of a severe weather outbreak that affected several states in the Midwest.

5. In 2018, a gunman opened fire at a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, killing 2 people and injuring several others. One of the victims was Taylor Robertson, a professional gamer from Westmont, Illinois. The shooting sparked renewed calls for stricter gun control laws in the United States.