The United States Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776.
The Second Continental Congress approved the document in Philadelphia after debating independence from Great Britain. Its adoption followed the Lee Resolution, which had formally proposed that the colonies become independent states. The Declaration explained the break and presented a long list of grievances against King George III.
July 4 marks adoption, not necessarily the day every delegate signed the engrossed parchment. Most historians believe the main signing ceremony took place on August 2, 1776, while some signatures were added later. The document itself is dated July 4, which helped establish the date as the United States national holiday.
The Declaration was printed and distributed in several forms. The first public printing was the Dunlap broadside, while the later Goddard broadside listed the names of the signers. The anniversary in 2026 is the 250th anniversary of this 1776 adoption.