The second volume of the History of Belarusian Statehood has deeply and comprehensively studied and characterized the state-legal status of Belarusian lands within the Russian Empire; the main stages and features inherent in the formation of the Belarusian nation were considered; determined the content of the Belarusian national idea; reflected the policy of the government of the Russian state towards the Belarusian people; patterns in the struggle of Belarusian political parties and organizations for the implementation of the idea of ​ ​ national statehood were investigated.