Star Wars Day / Panama Canal / Margaret Thatcher

The Battle of Tewkesbury was the final confrontation between the Houses of Lancaster and York, resulting in the death of Edward of Westminster and the restoration of King Edward IV to the throne.

Alexander VI issues the papal bull "Inter caetera," dividing the Americas between Spain and Portugal by a distance of 100 leagues from the Azores or Cape Verde Islands.

Ferdinand VII signs the Decree of the 4th of May, restoring absolutism in Spain.

Chicago's Haymarket Square is rocked by a bomb attack at a peaceful labor rally, leading the police to open fire, killing several and injuring many.

U.S. officially acquires the Panama Canal, begins construction.

Norman Mailer's first novel, The Naked and the Dead, published at 25, is critically acclaimed and regarded as one of the best World War II novels.

First Grammy Awards: Perry Como and Ella Fitzgerald win top awards.

Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Harry Cohen, a lawmaker in the U.K. Parliament, makes a pun that will inspire a holiday far from government: "May the 4th be with you."

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat signed the Palestinian self-rule in Cairo.

Seth MacFarlane secured a $100 million deal with Fox to keep "Family Guy" and "American Dad" on air until 2012, making him the highest-paid TV writer.