Garibaldi and Cavour were two very influential people in the unification for Italy and without them the unification may not have occurred. Although they both ultimately wanted the same thing, the unification of Italy, they went about it in different ways. Cavour was a highly intellectual man, who orchestrated things from a political stand point ensuring good relations with countries like France, of which without the unification may never have succeeded. Garibaldi on the other hand was more of people’s person, a leader of men who was very direct and his actions such as the taking of Naples and Sicily allowed Italy to unite properly and not remain just an extended Piedmont.
Cavour’s main contribution to the unification of Italy would probably be the fact he had gotten France and Napoleon on side and without this it is very doubtful that the Risorgimento would have succeeded. Cavour did this through politics and this also got Italy recognised at a world stage, gaining a seat the peace conference held in Paris after the Crimean war held in 1856. This conference allowed Cavour to become friends with Napoleon, and this was a very important part in the unification of Italy as it would foreshadow things to come. However how much Cavour wanted Piedmont to enter the war is questionable and was probably more down to Victor Emmanuel. Cavour’s role as Prime minister was very important as it allowed him to make these ties with France and show his political cunningness, e.g. at the meeting in Plombières where he gained the support of France against Austria. It also allowed him to act through the king Victor Emmanuel, and while Cavour himself wasn’t such a popular public figure he could ensure the King was by writing such speeches for him as the ‘Grido di dolore’ something which became a catch phrase amongst Italian people. Possibly it was best for Cavour that he wasn’t