Which 1976 national anniversary preceded America250 as the United States' 200th anniversary?

The United States Bicentennial preceded America250 as the nation's 200th anniversary in 1976.

The Bicentennial commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and was observed throughout the United States. Celebrations included parades, public ceremonies, historical programs, exhibitions, and specially designed national symbols. The anniversary was one of the largest nationwide commemorations in American history.

The 1976 observance followed the 1876 Centennial and the 1926 Sesquicentennial. Each milestone used a different anniversary term: centennial for 100 years, sesquicentennial for 150 years, and bicentennial for 200 years. America250 marks the next major quarter-century milestone after the Bicentennial.

The terms can be easy to mix up because “bicentennial” is sometimes used loosely for any major anniversary. In its precise historical sense, it means a 200th anniversary. The United States Bicentennial was tied specifically to 1776 and therefore provides the direct historical precedent for the 2026 America250 commemoration.