The Republic of Estonia is one of those European countries for which the year 1918 meant a deep and radical change in the development of their states. During the last decade, these states – Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic (the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in 1918), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – have all become Member States of or applicant countries to the European Union. On 28 July 1922, the Republic of Estonia was de jure recognized by the Government of the United States. This was an important act, since soon afterwards, on 22 September 1922, Estonia became a member of the League of Nations. Estonia had thus become a subject of international law.