Which document did the United States celebrate with its 200th anniversary in 1976?

The United States celebrated the Declaration of Independence with its 200th anniversary in 1976.

The national bicentennial marked two centuries since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776. Celebrations included parades, exhibitions, fireworks, educational programs, and special commemorative objects across the country.

The anniversary was not the 200th anniversary of the Constitution, which was signed in 1787, nor of the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the Revolutionary War in 1783. The bicentennial’s central date was therefore tied to the Declaration and Independence Day.

The 1976 observance provides the immediate precedent for America250. The earlier celebration included a major national focus on history and public participation, while the 2026 semiquincentennial similarly connects the founding era with broader reflections on American history and civic life.