The Second Continental Congress adopted the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, a decisive step toward the independence commemorated by America250. The resolution declared that the Thirteen Colonies were free and independent states.
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced the resolution on June 7, 1776. It had three connected goals: declaring independence, forming foreign alliances, and preparing a plan for colonial confederation. Congress postponed final consideration briefly so delegates could consult their colonial governments.
Two days after approving the independence resolution, Congress adopted the final text of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. This distinction explains why July 2 and July 4 both appear in accounts of the founding. July 2 was the legal decision for independence, while July 4 became the celebrated anniversary associated with the Declaration’s wording.
The resolution did not instantly end the Revolutionary War. Fighting had already begun in 1775, and the conflict continued until the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Its importance was political: it formally transformed the colonies’ relationship with Great Britain.