The task of the newly established government was indeed an arduous one; for, not only did it have to defend its authority against Spain, but also to make its power felt and obeyed by the provinces of the interior. The first task was accomplished when the Spaniards were finally driven from South America; the carrying out of the second task brought on a second revolution, a fratricidal strife, which came very near establishing in Argentina a number of petty and insignificant states instead of a united, strong nation. In this second struggle, though in principle the battle was lost for Buenos Aires (since the federal form of government is the one that obtains to-day in Argentina), the leadership of the capital remained unquestionably established so far as initiative and spiritual ascendancy are concerned. Buenos Aires set out, as Rome had done, to expand politically from a city-state into a vast republican state. She partly failed in this, as is evidenced by the withdrawal of Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia from the old Viceroyalty of the Plata, but, as we have said, she succeeded in establishing, if not the political hegemony of the Plata, the undisputed spiritual leadership, and the proud claim of being the second largest and wealthiest Latin city in the world, and the greatest in all the Southern Hemisphere. We shall attempt to trace briefly: first, the steps by which the Spaniards were expelled from the South American countries; second, the steps by which the provinces of the Plata emerged from the chaos of civil strife, and came, after the battle of Pavón, to enjoy the sweet fruits of peace. After the deposition of Cisneros, the provisional Junta sent out circulars to the provinces, asking for their recognition of its authority. The provinces, save Uruguay and Paraguay, signified their support of the new government. From the very beginning, then, these two provinces showed a tendency not to accept the leadership of Buenos Aires. Furthermore, not long thereafter, when it became known that the Junta aimed at separation, the province of Córdoba and those of Alto Perú (Bolivia) joined with Uruguay and Paraguay in their opposition to the provisional government. The "Tory" reaction was thus not long in manifesting itself.