1. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson approved the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, which transferred a vast territory from France to the United States. The purchase expanded the country's borders westward and opened up new opportunities for exploration and settlement.

2. In 1860, Virginia became the first southern state to secede from the Union, sparking the start of the Civil War. The decision was made by a special convention of the state's citizens, who felt that their rights and interests were being threatened by the federal government's stance on slavery.

3. In 1917, the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company launched the USS West Virginia, one of the most powerful battleships in the US Navy's fleet. The ship was heavily involved in World War II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, and earned numerous commendations for its performance.

4. In 1955, Virginia's first commercial nuclear power reactor began operation at the Shippingport Atomic Power Station. The facility was a milestone in the development of nuclear energy and paved the way for the construction of numerous other reactors in the United States.

5. In 1999, the Virginia General Assembly voted to abolish parole for all new felony convictions, making the state one of only a handful in the country to take such a drastic step. The decision was controversial and has been hotly debated ever since, with supporters arguing that it has helped reduce crime rates and opponents claiming that it has led to overcrowding in prisons and other negative consequences.