Italian Unification - Notes on who the real father of the Italian Unification was.

Who was the real father of the Italian nation? Thesis: It would be arduous to imagine statesmen other than Giuseppe Garibaldi and Count Camillio di Cavour, as contributors to the Italian cause. Garibaldi, as a patriot, democrat, and freedom fighter was determined to create a 'single Italy', and devoted his life to national liberation but only Cavour, however, knew how to make it possible. Indeed, as the historian Philips puts it: "[Cavour kept [the unification] …

…a united Italy by his efforts alone." (Lee 83) "Cavour welcomed him with courtesy and friendliness and hinted that he could rely on considerable official help. Cavour even authorized Garibaldi to pass on these hints to others. It seems that he is seriously thinking about the great political redemption of our peninsula. Garibaldi took his leave of the minister on very friendly terms and with these encouraging promises of help for the cause." (Pallavicino to Manin 233)