1. Illinois officially became a state on November 5, 1818, making it the 21st state to join the United States.
2. On November 5, 1861, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of Belmont in Mississippi County. This was the first battle Grant led during the Civil War.
3. November 5, 1895, marked the opening of the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, which was designed by renowned architect Louis Sullivan and is recognized as one of the most ornate and acoustically perfect theatres in the world.
4. In 2010, Pat Quinn became the first Illinois governor to win a full term since 1990 when he was elected on November 5. Quinn had previously taken office in 2009 following the impeachment of then-governor Rod Blagojevich.
5. The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years on November 5, 2016, with a Game 7 victory over the Cleveland Indians. The historic win sparked celebrations throughout the city and drew millions of fans to a victory parade.