Which document's adoption in 1776 is commemorated by the United States' America250 anniversary?

The adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 is commemorated by the United States' America250 anniversary.

The Second Continental Congress adopted the document on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. It announced that the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states rather than colonies subject to the Kingdom of Great Britain. The text also explained the political principles and grievances that the delegates believed justified separation.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft as a member of the five-person Committee of Five. Congress edited the draft before adopting it, and the final engrossed parchment was signed primarily on August 2, 1776. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document.

The Declaration is distinct from the Constitution, which was drafted in 1787 and established the framework of the federal government. It is also distinct from the Articles of Confederation, the first national governing framework, which took effect in 1781. America250 specifically centers on the Declaration's 1776 anniversary.