Which document’s adoption does America250 commemorate on July 4, 2026?

America250 commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

The Declaration was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1776. It explained why the thirteen colonies were ending their political connection with Great Britain and asserted that they were free and independent states.

Thomas Jefferson drafted the document, but the final text resulted from review and editing by Congress. The text includes a list of grievances against King George III and a declaration of political principles, including the famous claim that people possess “unalienable Rights.”

The Declaration is not the same document as the Constitution. The Constitution, written in 1787, established the federal government’s framework, while the Declaration announced independence. The Articles of Confederation, adopted later, served as the first U.S. governing charter before the Constitution replaced them.