The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House, a building now known as Independence Hall. The delegates approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776, making Philadelphia the setting for the formal announcement that the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states.
Philadelphia was the meeting place of the Continental Congress during the critical early stages of the American Revolution. The city’s location, printing industry, and political importance made it a major center of colonial resistance and revolutionary debate. The Declaration was printed and distributed from Philadelphia after its adoption.
Independence Hall later became part of Independence National Historical Park. It is also closely associated with the United States Constitution, which was debated and signed there in 1787. Because both founding documents are linked to the same building, Philadelphia is frequently described as a key birthplace of the United States.