Which founding document is commemorated by the United States’ America250 anniversary?

America250 commemorates the Declaration of Independence, the founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1776.

The Declaration announced that the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent states no longer subject to British rule. Congress adopted it unanimously on July 4, 1776, making that date the basis for the United States’ Independence Day and the 2026 semiquincentennial.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft, working with the Committee of Five and incorporating revisions made by Congress. The document presents political and moral arguments for independence and lists grievances against King George III.

The Declaration is distinct from the Constitution, which established the framework of the federal government in 1787. It is also different from the Articles of Confederation, an earlier governing compact that preceded the Constitution. America250 centers on the Declaration’s independence milestone, not the later creation of the constitutional government.