Which document’s 250th anniversary is America250 chiefly commemorating?

America250 chiefly commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the document on July 4, 1776, announcing that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states. The text explained the political reasons for separation from Great Britain and presented ideas about government and human rights.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the initial draft, while Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston helped revise it as the Committee of Five. The declaration was publicly issued in July, but most delegates signed the engrossed parchment on August 2, 1776.

This distinction matters because “adoption” and “signing” are sometimes treated as the same event. America250’s anniversary language commonly refers to the 250th anniversary of the signing, while July 4 traditionally commemorates adoption and publication. Both references point to the Declaration as the central document.