On what date was the Declaration of Independence signed?

The Declaration of Independence was officially adopted on July 4, 1776. However, the signing of the document actually took place over time, with a significant number of delegates signing it on August 2, 1776. This is why the second option is recognized as a key date in relation to the document.

While July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, marking the day the Continental Congress declared independence from Britain, not all signatories were present for the signing on that date. Therefore, the majority of the delegates gathered for the formal signing did so later in August. This historical context highlights the importance of August 2 as the day when the formal signing was predominantly completed.