Which document’s 250th anniversary is America250 commemorating in 2026?

America250 is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence in 2026.

The Declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as independent states rather than part of the British Empire. The Second Continental Congress adopted the text in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

Thomas Jefferson drafted the document, working with a committee that included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The final text explained the colonies’ grievances against King George III and presented a philosophical case for government based on rights and consent.

A common mix-up is treating the Constitution as the document turning 250 in 2026. The Constitution was written in 1787 and took effect in 1789. The anniversary campaign instead centers on the Declaration and the independence it proclaimed, although many related events also discuss the later founding documents.