The Second Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, during the independence process commemorated by America250.
Introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, the resolution declared that the thirteen United Colonies were free and independent states. Congress approved it after months of debate over whether a formal break with Great Britain was necessary and politically possible.
July 2 and July 4 are related but different milestones. The Lee Resolution supplied the legal-political decision for independence, while the Declaration of Independence explained and justified that decision in a public document. Congress adopted the Declaration two days later, on July 4.
John Adams predicted that July 2 would be remembered with celebrations, but history attached the main national holiday to July 4. America250 therefore commemorated the Declaration’s July 4 adoption while the earlier resolution remains a key step in the same independence sequence.