How Did Garibaldi Contribute To Italian Unification

Did Garibaldi or Cavour make the more important contribution to achieving Italian unification?

Cavour had a larger contribution to the unification of Italy, because Garibaldi would not be able to achieve what he did without the influence of Cavour, Cavour himself was Prime Minister of Piedmont developing it into a modern and economically successful state, and he was participating in the unification of Italy longer than Garibaldi. However this makes it seem as if Garibaldi made the process of the unification of Italy faster. Although Cavour did not have as much passion for the unification of Italy, especially southern Italy, than Garibaldi, he still contributed more, was participating longer, and held large amounts of power contributing to

the unification.
Cavour paved the way for Garibaldi’s immense success. Although Garibaldi’s success was not a bad thing, and he very much impacted the unification of Italy, he would not have been able to do it without Cavour’s new modern and economically successful state. Garibaldi also learned how to form a strong military, thanks to Cavour’s continuous fight towards a strong army. Piedmont strategized with France, provoking a battle that Austria would start. This also starts Garibaldi’s reign, thanks to Cavour. Cavour began his move towards the unification of Italy without the influence of anyone else, unlike Garibaldi who looked up to Mazzini and was influenced by the ideas of Young Italy.
Cavour was elected as Prime Minister in 1852, was taken down in 1859 and elected once again in 1860. Though Garibaldi was a great leader to all the troops, he was never elected into office as a Prime Minister. Cavour also had more experience in not just the battlefields, but within offices, and around citizens. Cavour was a large part of the alliance with France, which is what let Garibaldi achieve all of the things that he did. His relationships with others, which also helped him towards the unification. Without his relationship with France, he would never be able to strategize, the battle between Austria and Piedmont. He also brought modern and economic success, showing how even though he did not show it often, he did care about the citizens of Piedmont’s well-being.
Cavour modernized Piedmont both economically and politically.

Economically, he made a potential of fertile land and wealth, and politically he created a constitutional government, making it so 2% of the population can vote. His economic reforms included, introducing the national bank investment into public use. He also improved infrastructure by developing railways, and creating the Cavour Canal for modernized agriculture. Not only this, but he also increased trade. He brought forth political modernization by instituting freedom of press, academic freedom, meaning all citizens, but women, can vote, and universities can choose their curriculum. He also brought forth the freedom to form political parties, and the Siccardi Laws. The Siccardi Laws reduced the power of the Catholic Church by not letting The Church hide anyone, and Clerics were also tried in secular courts, which put The Church back into public law. This means that if anyone in The Church is against Cavour, then they can go to jail. This made the state the highest political authority, and allowed Piedmont the right to prosecute member of the church and their supporters. This shows that even though Garibaldi had immense success on the battlefield, Cavour did more behind the scenes, and brought unification towards everyone even regular citizens, and those with high

power.
In conclusion, it is true that both Cavour and Garibaldi highly influenced the unification of Italy, but given the evidence provided and all the things that Cavour did on and off the battlefield, it is believed that Cavour contributed more. This is in no way saying Garibaldi did poorly with the unification. Without him they would have not as strong as a military, making it extremely harder to unify the country. Thanks to Garibaldi and his immense success, Italy prevailed and he was a large contributor to the unification of Italy. However, Cavour continuously proved how much of a leader he was. Unification does not only involve fighting battles, and being on the battlefield, it also involves the community that you are unifying. Cavour brought modernization, political and economical, had strong relationships, and gave 2% of the public the right to vote. Cavour gained popularity and is a major reason why Italy became unified