1. In 1941, the United States entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Arizona played a significant role in the war effort, with many military installations and training camps located in the state.

2. On December 9, 1962, the city of Phoenix held its first-ever Fiesta Bowl, a collegiate football game that has since become a beloved annual tradition. Today, the Fiesta Bowl is one of the most prestigious bowl games in college football.

3. In 1982, Arizona became the first state in the country to legislatively recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday. The holiday is now celebrated nationwide on the third Monday in January.

4. On December 9, 2004, the state of Arizona executed its first prisoner in more than two years. The execution was controversial, with some advocates arguing that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment.

5. In 2010, Arizona passed one of the strictest anti-immigration laws in the country, known as SB 1070. The law sparked widespread protests and boycotts and was later partially struck down by the Supreme Court. The controversy surrounding SB 1070 brought the issue of immigration reform to the national spotlight.