Discover what happened on November 5 in history as voters reshaped American politics, determined individuals challenged expectations, groundbreaking technology transformed everyday life, and unforgettable moments in sports and entertainment made headlines around the world.
What Happened on November 5 in History?
On this day, Michigan voters approved women’s suffrage, Franklin Roosevelt won a historic third presidential term, George Foreman reclaimed the heavyweight boxing championship at age 45, and Jennifer Granholm became Michigan’s first woman elected governor.
NOVEMBER 5 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1605 – Guy Fawkes was discovered guarding explosives beneath England’s Parliament as conspirators attempted to assassinate King James I. The failed Gunpowder Plot is still commemorated in Britain with bonfires and fireworks on November 5.
1872 – President Ulysses S. Grant won reelection, defeating Liberal Republican candidate Horace Greeley. Greeley died before the Electoral College cast its votes.
1872 – Women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony cast a ballot in the presidential election in Rochester, New York, challenging laws that prohibited women from voting. She was later arrested, convicted, and fined $100, a penalty she refused to pay.
1895 – Inventor George B. Selden received a U.S. patent for a gasoline-powered road vehicle, setting off years of legal disputes over early automobile manufacturing. Henry Ford later successfully challenged the broad interpretation of Selden’s patent.
1912 – Democrat Woodrow Wilson won the presidential election, defeating incumbent Republican William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as the Progressive Party candidate.
1918 – Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment granting women equal voting rights in state elections, two years before the 19th Amendment extended women’s suffrage nationwide. Michigan became one of the states helping lead the movement toward women’s voting rights.
1935 – Inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong publicly demonstrated his frequency-modulation radio system, which greatly reduced the static and interference common to AM broadcasting. His pioneering work helped lay the foundation for modern FM radio.
1940 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican Wendell Willkie, becoming the first and only U.S. president elected to a third term. Roosevelt would later win a fourth term in 1944.
1946 – John F. Kennedy, age 29, won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts, beginning a political career that would eventually lead him to the presidency.
1968 – Republican Richard Nixon won the presidential election over Democrat Hubert Humphrey and third-party candidate George Wallace, becoming the 37th president of the United States.
1974 – Meteorologist Bill Steffen began his West Michigan television career at WZZM-TV Channel 13 in Grand Rapids. He later became a familiar face at WOOD-TV, building one of the region’s longest-running broadcasting careers.
1977 – Future President George W. Bush married Laura Welch in Midland, Texas. The couple had met just a few months earlier and would later become president and first lady.
1992 – Malice Green died after being beaten during an encounter with Detroit police officers. His death sparked public outrage, protests, and renewed scrutiny of police brutality. Two officers were subsequently convicted in connection with his death.
1994 – Former President Ronald Reagan publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, sharing the news in a handwritten letter to the American people.
1994 – George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer in the tenth round of their heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas. At age 45, Foreman became the oldest man to win a major world heavyweight boxing title, completing one of sports’ greatest comebacks.
1996 – President Bill Clinton won reelection, defeating Republican Bob Dole and Reform Party candidate Ross Perot to secure a second term.
1998 – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde sent President Bill Clinton a list of 81 questions as part of the congressional impeachment inquiry arising from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
1999 – Federal Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson issued findings of fact concluding that Microsoft possessed monopoly power in the market for Intel-compatible personal computer operating systems. The ruling marked a major development in the government’s antitrust case against the company.
2002 – Democrat Jennifer Granholm was elected Michigan’s first woman governor, defeating Republican Dick Posthumus. She took office in January 2003 and served two terms.
2004 – Pixar’s animated superhero film The Incredibles opened in U.S. theaters, introducing audiences to the Parr family and becoming a major critical and commercial success.
2007 – Members of the Writers Guild of America began a strike against major film and television producers over compensation and rights involving digital distribution. The walkout disrupted television production and lasted approximately 100 days.
2007 – Google and its partners announced Android, an open-source mobile operating system developed through the newly formed Open Handset Alliance. Android would eventually become the world’s most widely used smartphone operating system.
2009 – U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 others. Another victim died years later from injuries related to the attack, bringing the eventual death toll to 14.
2015 – Collins English Dictionary named “binge-watch” its Word of the Year, reflecting the growing popularity of streaming television and watching multiple episodes in one sitting.
2024 – Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, becoming the first former U.S. president since Grover Cleveland in 1892 to win a nonconsecutive second term. Trump became the 47th president when he took office in January 2025.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON NOVEMBER 5:
Jim Steranko – 88 years old (1938) – Author and illustrator
Ted Kulongoski – 86 years old (1940) – Soldier, lawyer and politician, 36th Governor of Oregon
Art Garfunkel – 85 years old (1941) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Peter Pace – 81 years old (1945) – General
Quint Davis – 79 years old (1947) – Director and producer
Bob Barr – 78 years old (1948) – Lawyer and politician
William Daniel Phillips – 78 years old (1948) – Physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
Armin Shimerman – 77 years old (1949) – Actor
James Kennedy – 76 years old (1950) – Psychologist and author
Joyce Maynard – 73 years old (1953) – Journalist, author and academic
Jeffrey Sachs – 72 years old (1954) – Economist and academic
Kris Jenner – 71 years old (1955) – Talent manager and businesswoman
Nestor Serrano – 71 years old (1955) – Actor
John Harwood – 70 years old (1956) – Journalist
Jeff Watson – 70 years old (1956) – Guitarist and songwriter
Don Falcone – 68 years old (1958) – Keyboard player, songwriter and producer
Mo Gaffney – 68 years old (1958) – Actress and screenwriter
Robert Patrick – 68 years old (1958) – Actor
Mark West – 66 years old (1960) – Basketball player
Michael Gaston – 64 years old (1962) – Actor
Marcus J. Ranum – 64 years old (1962) – Computer scientist and author
Andrea McArdle – 63 years old (1963) – Actress and singer
Tatum O'Neal – 63 years old (1963) – Actress and author
Brian Wheat – 63 years old (1963) – Bass player and songwriter
Atul Gawande – 61 years old (1965) – Surgeon and journalist
Angelo Moore – 61 years old (1965) – Singer and musician
Judy Reyes – 59 years old (1967) – Actress and producer
Seth Gilliam – 58 years old (1968) – Actor
Sam Rockwell – 58 years old (1968) – Actor
Pat Kilbane – 57 years old (1969) – Actor, comedian, director and screenwriter
Javy López – 56 years old (1970) – Puerto Rican-American baseball player
Corin Nemec – 55 years old (1971) – Actor, producer and screenwriter
Johnny Damon – 53 years old (1973) – Baseball player
Ryan Adams – 52 years old (1974) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jerry Stackhouse – 52 years old (1974) – Basketball player and sportscaster
Sebastian Arcelus – 50 years old (1976) – Actor
Bubba Watson – 48 years old (1978) – Golfer
Romi Dames – 47 years old (1979) – Japanese-American actress
Keith McLeod – 47 years old (1979) – Basketball player
Annet Mahendru – 41 years old (1985) – Actress
Ian Mahinmi – 40 years old (1986) – Basketball player
Kevin Jonas – 39 years old (1987) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor
Jason Kelce – 39 years old (1987) – Football player
O. J. Mayo – 39 years old (1987) – Basketball player
D. J. Kennedy – 37 years old (1989) – Basketball player
Jon Gray – 35 years old (1991) – Baseball player
Odell Beckham Jr. – 34 years old (1992) – Football player
Matty Beniers – 24 years old (2002) – Ice hockey player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR NOVEMBER 5:
- National Love Your Red Hair Day: Treat yourself at the salon, pair your ginger locks with a matching outfit and paint the town red with a fiery passion.
- International Stout Day: A favorite among beer connoisseurs, with its dark hue and bold taste — perfect for sipping on a cozy night in.
- National Chinese Takeout Day: Savoring the delicious fusion of Asian flavors and convenience, allowing culinary exploration from the comfort of your home.
- National Cash Back Day: National Cash Back Day is an exciting event that gets shoppers buzzing with enthusiasm. It's a special day when many retailers offer generous cash-back deals on a wide range of products. This gives people a chance to save significant amounts on their holiday shopping, making it an event everyone looks...
- American Football Day: Eleven players on each side, all scrambling for an oblong, pigskin ball. What could be better? Grab that foam finger and get ready to cheer because it’s time to learn about and celebrate American Football Day! History of American Football Day Just known as ‘football’ in the US and Canada...
- International Project Management Day: Master the art of juggling tasks, rallying teams and achieving goals — like a conductor of a symphony — orchestrating success with finesse!
- Drowsy Driving Prevention Week: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week highlights the critical issue of driving while tired. Many people underestimate the dangers of drowsy driving, but it poses a significant risk on the road. Fatigued drivers often have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and reduced attention, which can lead to serious accidents. This campaign emphasizes...
- National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week: National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is a special time dedicated to recognizing the invaluable work done by animal shelters. These shelters serve as safe havens for millions of animals in need. They offer a second chance to pets that might otherwise face dire situations. This week highlights the efforts of...
- World Tsunami Awareness Day: World Tsunami Awareness Day is a global reminder of the immense power of nature and the importance of preparedness. Tsunamis, though infrequent, can cause devastating loss of life and property. This day emphasizes the need for early warning systems and community education to minimize the impact of such disasters. It...
- National Men Make Dinner Day: When the aprons come on and the sizzle fills the kitchen, it's a culinary showdown, proving that guys can whip up more than just trouble.
- Talk Money Week: Navigating the maze of money decisions, finding a trusted guide who helps you secure your future and achieve your dreams.
- Bonfire Night : An annual spectacle marked by crackling flames, brilliant displays in the night sky, and a historic plot remembered with reverence.
- National Medical Cannabis Week: National Medical Cannabis Week is here. Are you ready to weed between the lines and discuss the high points of medical marijuana? It is a week of breaking down barriers to medically necessary cannabis use. This week also means showing that the grass might actually be greener when people in...
- Marzipan Week: With its unique texture and delicate almond flavor, marzipan is a delicious treat — perfect for those with a sweet tooth!
- World Communication Week: World Communication Week sparks conversations and connections during this time each year. This exciting week celebrates communication's vital role in our personal and professional lives! It encourages everyone, from friends and family to coworkers and communities, to reach out, share ideas, and build stronger relationships through effective communication. How to Celebrate...
- National Fig Week: How often do you crave figs? They might not come to mind every day, but during National Fig Week, they take center stage. This week celebrates the versatility and nutrition packed into every fig. Whether eaten fresh, dried, or used in cooking, figs have a lot to offer. From their...
- National Patient Transport Week: National Patient Transport Week honors the vital work of hospital transporters—the people who move patients with care and attention. It highlights how these team members keep patients and hospitals connected. Their efforts help patients get to tests, surgeries, or rooms on time. Each trip supports smoother daily operations and helps reduce...
- Cuckoo Dancing Week: Cuckoo Dancing Week celebrates the playful “Dance of the Cuckoos,” the signature theme of Laurel and Hardy films. Fans step into the groove from across the globe, echoing the duo’s charm with lively, lighthearted moves. This festival lifts spirits and connects people through shared laughter and movement. It brings joy through...
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1 Comment
Thank you Scott, I learned many new things very interesting.