The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, the date at the heart of America250’s commemoration.
The Second Continental Congress approved the document in Philadelphia after debating and revising Thomas Jefferson’s draft. The vote followed the Lee Resolution, which formally declared the colonies independent from Great Britain on July 2.
July 4 marks adoption of the Declaration, not necessarily the day every delegate signed the parchment copy. Most delegates signed the engrossed document on August 2, 1776, while some signed later. This distinction is a common source of confusion because the document itself is dated July 4.
The Declaration’s adoption made July 4 a powerful national symbol. America250 uses the 250th anniversary of that 1776 milestone as the basis for its nationwide 2026 celebration.