b) Vermont

Vermont was the first state to join the Union after the original 13, becoming the 14th state on March 4, 1791. Vermont’s admission to the Union represented a significant moment in the early years of the United States, as it set the precedent for the expansion and inclusion of new states. Prior to statehood, Vermont existed as an independent republic following its split from New York and New Hampshire. Vermont’s transition from an independent republic to a state in the federal union was an important step in the formation of the United States and its growing national identity.