Most delegates began signing the engrossed Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776.
Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, but the final parchment copy was prepared afterward. The engrossed document was written in a formal hand, traditionally associated with Timothy Matlack, and presented for signatures once the text had been approved and prepared.
Fifty delegates signed on August 2, with additional signatures added later. This explains why adoption, signing, and public announcement are related but distinct events. The date printed on the document is July 4, while the best-known group signing occurred nearly a month later.
The Declaration was not the Constitution. The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and signed on September 17 of that year. Confusing those dates can make the founding chronology seem simpler than it was. America250’s 2026 anniversary primarily follows the 1776 adoption date.