josé maría paz expanded his influence across the northern provinces, creating the unitarian league. the provinces of buenos aires, santa fe and entre ríos signed the federal pact in response, and quickly defeated the league by capturing paz by chance. the federal pact was kept for national organization after the unitarian defeat, córdoba, santiago del estero, la rioja and the provinces of cuyo joined the federal pact in 1831, catamarca, tucumán and salta did so the following year. the pact served both as a military alliance (both against non-signing provinces that attacked them, or against other countries) and as a sort of constitution.