1. In 1777, during the American Revolution, George Washington led his troops across the Delaware River in a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey. This daring move turned the tide of the war in favor of the Continental Army.

2. In 1862, the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou took place near Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was one of the first major engagements of the Vicksburg Campaign, a critical operation in the Civil War that ultimately led to Union victory.

3. In 1941, the United States declared war on Japan in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. This event brought the country into World War II and changed the course of history.

4. In 1985, a deadly tornado outbreak occurred in the southern United States, with more than 40 tornadoes touching down in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. The storms caused widespread damage and claimed the lives of more than 30 people.

5. In 2011, a major snowstorm hit the Pacific Northwest, dumping record amounts of snow on cities like Seattle and Portland. This event disrupted travel and caused widespread power outages, but locals also enjoyed rare opportunities to ski and play in the snow.