1. Virginia became a state: December 1, 1787 marks the day when Virginia became a state of the newly-formed United States of America. Virginia played a significant role in the American Revolution and was one of the original 13 colonies.

2. Jamestown burnt down: On December 1, 1607, the first permanent English settlement in America, Jamestown, Virginia, burnt down. The settlement was founded the year before and had been struggling to establish itself in the New World.

3. Civil War skirmish at Franklin: The Battle of Franklin, a minor skirmish of the American Civil War, took place in Franklin, Virginia on December 1, 1862. The Confederate Army, under General J.E.B. Stuart, defeated the Union Army in the area, which led to increased Confederate confidence in the region.

4. First-ever college football game in Virginia: On December 1, 1892, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) played their first-ever college football game against the University of Virginia. VMI lost the game 30-0, but the tradition of college football in Virginia had begun.

5. Supreme Court upholds Virginia "Right-to-work" law: On December 1, 1947, the Supreme Court upheld Virginia's "Right-to-work" law, which prohibited employers from requiring union membership as a condition of employment. This decision had a significant impact on Virginia's labor practices and bolstered the state's reputation as a business-friendly environment.