Which founding document's 1776 anniversary is celebrated by America250?

America250 celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776.

The document formally explained why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent states rather than subjects of Great Britain. Its best-known passage asserts that all people are created equal and possess unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft as a member of the Committee of Five. Congress debated and revised that draft before approving the final text on July 4, 1776. The parchment engrossed copy was ordered on July 19, and most delegates signed it on August 2.

The Declaration is often confused with the Lee Resolution, which Congress adopted on July 2. The resolution announced the decision for independence; the Declaration supplied a public explanation and statement of principles. The Constitution, by contrast, created the framework of the federal government in 1787.