Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, before adopting the Declaration of Independence celebrated by America250. The resolution declared that the colonies should be free and independent states.
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced the proposal on June 7, 1776. Congress debated it and approved the independence resolution on July 2, while the Declaration itself was finalized and adopted two days later.
John Adams believed July 2 would become the great anniversary of American independence. Instead, July 4 became the celebrated date because it marked adoption of the Declaration’s explanatory text, making the two dates easy to confuse.