Which 1776 document is central to the United States’ 250th anniversary in America250?

The Declaration of Independence is the 1776 document central to the United States’ 250th anniversary in America250.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776. It announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states rather than colonies subject to British rule.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the initial draft, working with a committee that included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Congress edited the text before approving it. The document presented a political case for independence and listed grievances against King George III.

The Declaration is not the same document as the Constitution. The Constitution established the federal government’s structure in 1787, while the Declaration announced separation from Britain in 1776. The Articles of Confederation later provided the first written framework for the United States’ national government.