USA Independence 250

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Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull. This painting has stood in the Capitol Rotunda since 1826. (Public domain)

(Jul. 3, 2026) — The Fourth of July 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It’s the day it was approved and sent to be printed. Except for the big signature of John Hancock, it was signed later.

Think of it, the Declaration was approved 250 years ago. That’s a quarter of a millenium. Though the U.S. is often called a young country, it’s the 23rd-oldest nation-state in the world.

Declaration of Independence. Source: Wikipedia

The main author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson, although he was part of a five-man committee. Here is a painting of committee members Benjamin Franklin and John Adams editing Jefferson’s work.

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, “Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776,” Library of Congress, public domain

On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress passed an independence resolution (the Lee Resolution). In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams made a prediction about how he thought Independence Day would be celebrated. Although he predicted Independence Day would be July 2nd rather than July 4th, Adams’ prediction of how the day is celebrated was quite accurate: “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

Read the rest here.