1. In 1786, the trial of Daniel Shays began in Springfield, Massachusetts. Shays was a farmer who led a rebellion against Massachusetts over heavy debts and taxes. The revolt was eventually suppressed, and Shays was pardoned.

2. In 1876, Thomas Edison was granted a patent for his mimeograph machine, revolutionizing the printing industry. The mimeograph would go on to be a common tool in schools and offices throughout the 20th century.

3. In 1945, the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. The bomb was developed by the Manhattan Project, which had its headquarters in New York City. The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki changed the course of world history and is a stark reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons.

4. In 1969, members of the radical group The Weathermen bombed the New York City police headquarters in protest of the Vietnam War. While no one was killed, the explosion caused significant damage to the building and surrounding area.

5. In 1988, the Tompkins Square Park Riot occurred in the East Village of Manhattan. The police attempted to clear out homeless people and punks who had been camping in the park, resulting in a violent clash between protesters and police. The incident became a symbol of police brutality and the changing demographics of the neighborhood.