Unitarios en la campaña bonaerense: vínculos y construcción política en un territorio adverso, 1820-1829

The purpose of the following article is to explore the connection between the leaders of the Unitarian faction and the inhabitants of Buenos Aires’ rural area during the years in which they strove for power. To begin with, I am inclined to believe that this matter is neglected in view of the fact that an unquestionable predominance of the Federalism lead by Rosas within the same geographical area is often assumed. Furthermore, I suppose that the Unitarian faction enjoyed to a certain extent of acceptance between large sectors of Buenos Aires’ rural population- farmers, ”pulperos”, peasants, among others-. By cooperating in multiple ways, not only did they contribute in the construction of the precarious Rivadavia´s State but also offered resistance to Juan Manuel de Rosas’ forces. Consequently, the strategic and material collaboration of the rural inhabitants to the Unitarian faction will be discussed and an analysis of the political “opinion war” which took place at that time will be provided. Finally, critical examination will be put forward regarding the links developed among outstanding individuals, intermediate leaders and residents of rural areas in Buenos Aires, rural individuals who would transform into a character of great relevance in the political scene, starting in the 1820 decade.