Which document’s adoption does the United States Semiquincentennial commemorate?

The United States Semiquincentennial commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the document on July 4, 1776. It announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states rather than colonies subject to Great Britain.

Thomas Jefferson drafted the main text with assistance from the Committee of Five, which also included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The document presented political arguments for independence and listed grievances against King George III.

The Constitution is another foundational American document, but it was drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788. The Articles of Confederation governed the United States under its first national framework from 1781 until the Constitution replaced it. Neither document is the direct basis for the 2026 anniversary.