1. In 1864, the Chicago Cubs (then known as the Chicago White Stockings) won their first baseball championship by defeating the Brooklyn Atlantics. This victory marked the beginning of the Cubs' long and storied history as one of baseball's most beloved franchises.

2. In 1919, the Volstead Act (also known as the National Prohibition Act) was passed by Congress, setting the stage for the era of Prohibition in the United States. The Act was largely driven by the efforts of temperance advocates, who believed that alcohol was a major social problem that needed to be addressed.

3. In 1947, the University of Chicago's Institute for Nuclear Studies officially opened its doors. The Institute played a crucial role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, and its researchers continued to make significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics in the years that followed.

4. In 1965, the Chicago Bears defeated the Baltimore Colts 35-28 in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest games in NFL history. The game featured a number of memorable moments, including a 107-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Bears' Gale Sayers.

5. In 2008, Barak Obama held his final rally of the presidential election campaign in Grant Park in Chicago. The rally drew a crowd estimated at over 200,000 people, and marked the beginning of Obama's historic presidency as the first African-American to hold the office.