Which body adopted the Declaration of Independence, central to America250, on July 4, 1776?

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It served as the revolutionary government representing the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War.

The body first convened in Philadelphia in May 1775, soon after fighting began at Lexington and Concord. It organized the Continental Army, selected George Washington as commander, conducted diplomacy, and eventually moved toward a formal break with Great Britain.

On July 2, Congress approved the Lee Resolution, which declared the colonies independent states. Two days later, it adopted the fuller Declaration, which explained the reasons for separation and presented a political case to the world.

The First Continental Congress was a different body. It met in 1774 and coordinated resistance to British policies, including the Continental Association trade boycott. The Second Congress followed it and handled the decisive steps toward independence, making it the institution commemorated by America250’s central historical narrative.