Which document’s adoption on July 4, 1776, is commemorated by the United States’ 250th anniversary?

The adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, is commemorated by the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The document announced that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as free and independent states rather than subjects of Great Britain. It also presented political principles and a list of grievances against King George III.

The Declaration was debated and edited by the Continental Congress after a drafting committee submitted a proposed text. Thomas Jefferson wrote the initial version, with revisions from Congress and committee members.

The Declaration is not the same document as the U.S. Constitution. The Declaration announced independence in 1776, while the Constitution established the federal government’s framework in 1787 and took effect in 1789. America250 primarily marks the 1776 independence milestone.