What 1776 document formed the central historical milestone celebrated by the America250 initiative?

The Declaration of Independence formed the central historical milestone celebrated by the America250 initiative.

Adopted in 1776, the Declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states rather than British colonies. Its opening principles state that people possess inherent rights and that legitimate government depends on the consent of the governed. The document then sets out grievances against George III and explains the colonies’ decision to separate.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the initial draft, working with a committee that included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The Second Continental Congress debated and revised the text before adoption. The final Declaration was later engrossed on parchment for signing.

The Declaration was not a constitution or a complete plan of government. The Articles of Confederation later provided a framework for the wartime union, and the Constitution replaced them in 1789. The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, formally ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.