On July 8, 1777, formal adoption of its new state constitution made Vermont the first state to formally abolish slavery.

On July 8, 1997, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) invited the former communist nations of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to join the alliance. This was the first invitation of former communist nations to join NATO since the end of the Cold War. The three countries would later attain membership in 1999. Since then, former communist states Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Baltic States have all become NATO members as well.

Learn more about NATO expansion from the organization's website.