1. On May 14, 1787, delegates from several states gathered at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, including those from the District of Columbia. This convention led to the drafting of the United States Constitution, which is still the supreme law of the land.

2. In 1802, the District of Columbia officially became the capital of the United States. Prior to this, the District was a mere collection of towns and villages that had been ceded by Maryland and Virginia to serve as the nation's capital.

3. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence, a significant event in the history of the Jewish people, many of whom live in the District of Columbia.

4. In 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This decision played a crucial role in ending segregation in the District and beyond.

5. On May 14, 1976, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act was signed into law by President Gerald Ford, granting the District limited self-governance. This law allowed for the election of a mayor and city council, giving residents of the District greater control over their local government.