1781: The American Revolution reached a turning point as the Siege of Yorktown commenced. This military campaign culminated in the British surrender led by General Lord Cornwallis on October 19, effectively bringing an end to the war for American independence.

1850: A significant milestone was reached as flogging was abolished as a form of punishment within the U.S. Navy. 

1920: A scandal rocked the world of baseball as eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted for their alleged involvement in throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. (All eight were permanently barred from the game; they were all found not guilty at trial.)

1924: The first airborne round-the-world flight in 175 days was accomplished by three U.S. Army planes, which touched down in Seattle.

1962: A federal appeals court made a significant ruling, finding Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett in civil contempt. This ruling was a result of his actions in blocking the admission of James Meredith, a Black student, to the University of Mississippi. 

2000: After a 12-year battle, the government granted approval for the use of the abortion pill RU-486. This decision marked a significant milestone in reproductive rights, providing women with an alternative method for terminating early pregnancies. The approval of this medication reflected the ongoing debates and discussions surrounding abortion rights and access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare.

2008: A groundbreaking achievement was accomplished as SpaceX successfully launched Falcon 1, making history as the first privately owned company to send a liquid-fueled rocket into orbit. 

2018: A significant turn of events occurred as President Donald Trump reversed course and acquiesced to the demands of Democrats. In response to their request, he agreed to a deeper FBI investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. 

2020: A grim milestone was reached as the global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic surpassed 1 million, according to the count conducted by Johns Hopkins University. 

2022: The destructive force of Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida as a massive Category 4 storm. Prior to its arrival, approximately 2.5 million people were ordered to evacuate in anticipation of the storm's impact. With maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (241 kph), this hurricane posed a significant threat.