The Lee Resolution was the Second Continental Congress’s July 2, 1776, vote for independence.
Introduced by Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee, the resolution declared that the United Colonies should be free and independent states. Congress approved that core independence measure before it finalized and proclaimed the Declaration of Independence two days later.
This distinction explains a common historical mix-up. July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day because Congress adopted and proclaimed the Declaration on that date, but the formal vote for independence occurred on July 2. America250’s 2026 commemoration follows the July 4 tradition while recognizing the broader sequence of events.
The resolution’s wording was brief compared with the Declaration’s philosophical and political explanation. The Declaration translated the political decision into a public statement of grievances, principles, and justification.