The United States Declaration of Independence received approval from Congress on July 4, 1776. The Second Continental Congress adopted the document after debating and revising Thomas Jefferson’s draft.
The vote followed the Lee Resolution, which declared the colonies independent from Great Britain on July 2. July 4 therefore marks approval of the Declaration itself, not the initial vote for independence. Congress then authorized printed copies for distribution throughout the colonies.
The parchment document was engrossed and signed primarily on August 2, although the precise signing timeline varied by delegate. This distinction causes a common mix-up: Independence Day commemorates the Declaration’s adoption on July 4, while the best-known signing ceremony is associated with August 2.
The Declaration explained the colonies’ reasons for separation and expressed political principles about rights and government. Its anniversary became the central national observance that America250 will commemorate in 2026.