1. In 1777, American forces led by General John Stark defeated a British detachment at the Battle of Saratoga. The victory marked a turning point in the American Revolution and helped secure French support for the colonists' cause.

2. In 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain. The treaty largely restored prewar conditions and did not address the issues that had led to the conflict, but it helped establish a sense of national pride and identity for Americans.

3. In 1854, New Hampshire became the first state to establish a uniform railroad gauge, paving the way for a more efficient and interconnected transportation system across the country.

4. In 1941, the USS Kearny, a destroyer serving in the Atlantic during World War II, was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Iceland. Eleven sailors were killed in the attack, and the incident helped galvanize American support for the war effort.

5. In 2006, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed legislation legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples. The move made New Hampshire the fourth state in the country to allow such unions and helped fuel the nationwide debate over marriage equality.