1. In 1781, the Battle of Cowpens took place in South Carolina, led by Virginian General Daniel Morgan. This battle was a turning point in the Revolutionary War and helped lead to the eventual defeat of the British.

2. In 1862, Virginia native and Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson won the Battle of Romney, a significant victory for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

3. In 1933, Virginia Governor John Garland Pollard signed the first state law in the country mandating a minimum wage for workers. This law set the minimum wage at 40 cents per hour.

4. In 1952, a series of destructive tornadoes tore through Virginia, killing 18 people and causing significant damage to several towns and cities.

5. In 2006, Virginia senator George Allen made controversial remarks at a campaign event, referring to an Indian-American man in the audience as "macaca." This incident was widely covered in the media and ultimately played a role in Allen's defeat in the Senate race.