1. On July 8, 1777, the state of New Hampshire was the first to ratify the Articles of Confederation, which served as America's first constitution until it was superseded by the current United States Constitution in 1789.

2. In 1892, on July 8, the first electric trolley car in Manchester, New Hampshire began operation. The Manchester Street Railway Company ran the car on Elm Street for the first time, marking a milestone in the city's transportation history.

3. July 8, 1947 is notable in New Hampshire history as the date of the Tamworth Meeting, a gathering of prominent Republicans at the Tamworth Inn that laid the groundwork for the creation of the modern conservative movement in America.

4. In 1961, on July 8, a massive fire destroyed a large section of Portsmouth's historic downtown district, including several notable buildings and landmarks. The fire caused millions of dollars in damage and marked a turning point in the city's efforts to preserve its historic architecture.

5. On July 8, 2011, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, making New Hampshire the sixth state in the nation to pass such a law. The move was widely celebrated by LGBTQ advocates and marked another step forward in the fight for marriage equality in America.