The Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, the year commemorated by America250. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally approved the Declaration’s wording in Philadelphia.
The document followed Congress’s July 2 resolution declaring that the thirteen colonies were free and independent states. Thomas Jefferson wrote the initial draft, which was revised by the committee and then edited by Congress before adoption.
The year 1776 is sometimes confused with other important dates in the founding era. The Revolutionary War began in 1775, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1777, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. The Treaty of Paris formally ended the war in 1783.
America250 therefore focuses on the 250-year interval from the Declaration’s adoption in 1776 to the national observances planned for 2026.