1. In 1789, North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the United States Constitution, which established a national government and outlined the powers of the three branches of government.

2. On November 8, 1861, the Battle of Belmont was fought in Missouri during the American Civil War. The 7th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was among the Confederate forces that fought Union troops, led by future president Ulysses S. Grant.

3. In 1880, the first radial tire was patented by North Carolinian William Johnstone, who had been experimenting with ways to improve the durability and performance of bicycle tires.

4. On November 8, 1900, Greensboro resident Silas McBee patented a design for an improved crop harvesting machine that could separate the grain from the stalks and stems more efficiently than previous models.

5. In 1965, the Winston-Salem sit-in began when African American students from Winston-Salem State College protested segregation at a Woolworth's lunch counter. The demonstration lasted for weeks and inspired similar protests across the country.