Come on Joel, the elections in November, and the 5th is the Friday after elections. I doubt one in a hundred Americans could name 5 Nov in connection with Guy Fawkes, or even one in ten recognize the connection if it were explicitly stated. Just a short list of other major events on 5 Nov that might equally well fit the date

1781 - John Hanson elected first President of the US Congress
1789 - French National Meeting declares all citizens equal under law
1871 - Susan B Anthony arrested trying to vote in Rochester NY for Republican Ulysses Grant
1933 - Chicago Bears 30 game unbeaten streak ends to Patriots (10-0), which would be of ironic significance with a Chicago POTUS.
1979 - Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini declares US "The Great Satan"
2006 - Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq, and his co-defendants Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Hamed al-Bandar are sentenced to death in the al-Dujail trial for the role in the massacre of the 148 Shi'as in 1982.

It also happens to be the day at least 1 out of 7 US elections take place on, as well as in this case being a friday, one of the preferred days for activities.