Which document adopted by Congress in 1776 is commemorated by the United States' 250th anniversary?

The Declaration of Independence, adopted by Congress in 1776, is the document commemorated by the United States' 250th anniversary.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. It announced that the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states and explained their separation from Great Britain.

Thomas Jefferson drafted most of the text as part of a five-person committee that also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The final document listed 27 grievances against King George III and expressed arguments about natural and political rights.

The Declaration is often confused with the Constitution. The Declaration announced independence in 1776, while the Constitution established the federal government’s framework in 1787. America250 centers on the Declaration’s anniversary, making July 4, 2026 the 250th anniversary observance.