The Second Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, before the America250 milestone.
Introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, the resolution declared that the United Colonies should be free and independent states. Congress approved it on July 2, creating the formal political decision for independence.
The Declaration of Independence followed as the public explanation of that decision. Congress adopted the declaration’s wording on July 4, 1776, which is why Independence Day and the 250th-anniversary observance are associated with July 4 rather than July 2.
The two dates are often conflated. July 2 marks the congressional vote for independence, while July 4 marks adoption and proclamation of the Declaration of Independence. America250’s central anniversary date was July 4, 2026, exactly 250 years after the declaration’s adoption.