1. On December 12, 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution, which laid the foundation for the government of the newly-formed country.

2. In 1857, the Hudson River Railroad opened, connecting New York City to Albany via the Hudson River, making travel and trade easier between the two cities.

3. On December 12, 1901, the first transatlantic radio transmission was sent from Marconi's Belmar station in New Jersey to a receiving station in Cornwall, England, marking a major milestone in communication technology.

4. The infamous Lindbergh baby kidnapping case began on December 12, 1932, when the baby of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was taken from his home in East Amwell, New Jersey. The case captivated the nation and eventually led to the execution of the kidnapper, Bruno Hauptmann.

5. In 2007, New Jersey became the first state to abolish the death penalty since it was reinstated by the Supreme Court in 1976. The last execution in the state had been carried out in 1963.