1. In 1872, the first Women’s Suffrage Association convention in Connecticut was held in Hartford. The convention was led by suffrage leader Isabella Beecher Hooker, a resident of Hartford.

2. On August 8, 1956, American medical researcher and microbiologist Jonas Salk visited the University of Connecticut to deliver a lecture on the eradication of polio. Salk is famous for developing the polio vaccine, which is credited with nearly eliminating the disease in the United States.

3. In 1973, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in the case of Doe v. Bolton, which legalized abortion in the state. The ruling was issued on August 8 and was based on the right to privacy protected by the state’s constitution.

4. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, one of the most significant battles of the American Revolution, took place on March 15, 1781, in North Carolina. However, several Connecticut soldiers played a crucial role in the battle, including Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dearborn, who commanded a regiment from Connecticut.

5. On August 8, 2012, the town of Newtown, Connecticut experienced a devastating tragedy when a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 26 people, including 20 children. The incident sparked a national conversation about gun control and school safety.