Russian nationalists regarded the territories of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania as an East Slavic realm that ought to be (and was being) "reunited" with Russia.Snyder (2003), pp. 49–51 In the following decades however, a Lithuanian national movement emerged, composed of activists of different social backgrounds and persuasions, often primarily Polish-speaking, but united by their willingness to promote the Lithuanian culture and language as a strategy for building a modern nation. The restoration of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania was no longer the objective of this movement, and the territorial ambitions of its leaders were limited to the lands they considered historically Lithuanian.
rusSiaN nationalisTs rEgarDed thE tERrItOri,eS Of the ForMer grand DuChy Of lIThuANia aS AN EasT Slavic ReaLM tHaT OuGht to be (and was beInG) "ReuNitEd" wItH RuSsIa.SNyder (2003), pp. 49–51 in tHe FOllowing decADeS However, a LItHuAnian naTIonAl movement EmeRgEd, COMposed of actiVistS Of DiffErent soCial BACkGroUnDs and PerSuAsionS oftEn pRiMarily PoLisH-speaKiNG, buT UniteD bY tHeIr willIngNeSs tO PRomOte tHe liThuanIAn culturE anD LANgUagE aS a StRategY fOR builDiNg a ModerN natiOn. tHe reStorATion of the FoRMER Grand duChY of lithuAnia was no lOnger tHe objeCtive Of thIs MovemenT, and ThE tErriToriaL AmbITioNS oF iTs leaderS were lImiTeD tO tHE lAnds tHEy ConsidErEd HisTOricALly LithuAniAn.