Count Camillo di Cavour - an educated man born into the Piedmontese aristocracy. Guiseppe Garibaldi - the uneducated son of a Piedmontese fisherman. The contrast between the two men around whom the Italian Unification occurred is clearly visible even before considering their aspirations, policies and characters. According to Years of Nationalism, the Risorgimento triumphed through fighting and annexation. However, this was but one man's method of achieving his desires for his country - Garibaldi was motivated by a vision of a unified and independent Italy. Cavour, on the other hand, took a diplomatic approach, resigning from the army in order to pursue an active career in politics. He wished to develop Piedmont into the heart of a united northern Italy. It was the contrasting aims and achievements of Cavour and Garibaldi that most greatly contributed to the unification of Italy.

Camillo di Cavour was a very liberal character...