1. On May 11, 1865, the last Confederate military force east of the Mississippi River surrendered in Gainesville, Alabama. This marked the effective end of the American Civil War in the eastern theater.

2. On May 11, 1871, Illinois became the first state to establish a legal holiday for workers, known as Labor Day. This was a significant milestone in the labor movement and set a precedent for other states to follow suit.

3. On May 11, 1894, the Pullman Strike erupted in Chicago, as workers for the Pullman Palace Car Company protested low wages and high living costs. The strike eventually escalated into a national crisis, with the federal government intervening to break the strike.

4. On May 11, 1904, the St. Louis World's Fair opened to the public, featuring exhibits from around the world and marking the first time the Olympic Games were held in the United States.

5. On May 11, 1985, Michael Jordan was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year after a standout first season with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan went on to become one of the most iconic basketball players of all time, winning six NBA championships with the Bulls.