1. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This event drew the United States into World War II, and Illinois played a significant role in the war effort, with many Illinoisans serving in the armed forces and the state contributing heavily to wartime production.

2. December 7, 1832 saw the end of the Black Hawk War in Illinois, a conflict between the United States and Native American tribes led by the Sauk chief Black Hawk. The war resulted in the expulsion of the Sauks and their allies from the state and the opening of new territory to white settlement.

3. In 1869, the Illinois State Board of Agriculture was established on December 7, with the goal of promoting and improving agriculture in the state. Today, the Illinois Department of Agriculture continues this work, supporting farmers, promoting local products, and protecting the state's natural resources.

4. On December 7, 1888, the Haymarket Martyrs Monument was dedicated in Forest Park, Illinois. The monument commemorates the trial and execution of eight anarchist leaders who were accused of inciting violence at a labor demonstration in Chicago's Haymarket Square in 1886. The Haymarket affair had a lasting impact on labor relations and political activism in the United States.

5. December 7, 1931 marked the opening of the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) in Chicago. At 110 stories and 1,450 feet tall, the Willis Tower was the tallest building in the world until 1998. Today, it remains a major landmark in the city and a popular tourist attraction.