America250 commemorates the Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776.
The Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. It announced that the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states rather than colonies governed by Great Britain.
The date is often associated with the signing, but adoption and signing were separate parts of the process. Congress approved the final text on July 4, while most delegates signed the engrossed parchment copy on August 2. The document explained the colonies’ reasons for separation and listed grievances against King George III.
The Declaration’s anniversary is the central historical reference for the 2026 semiquincentennial. The word “America” in America250 points to the national anniversary built around this 1776 act of independence, not the later adoption of the Constitution or the beginning of the presidency.