Belarusians
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'''Belarusians''' or '''Belarusans''' (, previously also spelt ''Belarussians'', ''Byelorussians'' and ''Belorussians'') are an ethnic group of East Slavs who are the majority population of Belarus, also being minorities in the neighboring Poland (especially former Białystok Voivodship|Bialystok province), Russia, Lithuania and Ukraine. Noticeable numbers have immigrated to the United States|USA and Canada.
The native language is Belarusian language|Belarusian, however the majority of Belarusians in Belarus speaks Russian language|Russian.
The prefix "Bela" translates into "White" so these people were sometimes called ''White Russians'' though not to be confused with the political group of White Army|White Russians that opposed the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. This name was in use in the west for some time in history, together with ''White Ruthenes'', ''Ruthenia#Belarusians|White Ruthenians'' and similar forms. Using the form "White Russians" is considered offensive and misleading by many Belarusians as it incorrectly suggests being a subgroup of Russians.
The Belarusian people trace their distinct culture to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus' and Samogitia and earlier. For quite a long time they were mostly known under the name of '''Litvins''' (Lithuanians), which refers to the state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (''Litva'', ''Vialikaja Litva'') of which the White Ruthenian lands were part of since the 12th century.
After World War I Belarusians had their own state, with varying degrees of independence (Belarus National Republic under German occupation, and as the Byelorussian SSR since 1919, included into the USSR in 1922). In 1991 Belarus gained full independence after the leaders of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia declared the History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)|dissolution of the Soviet Union.
External links
http://www.pravapis.org/art_belarus_ethnographic_map1953.asp
See also
Krivichs
Dregovichs
History of Belarus
Belarusian language
List of Belarusians
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