Cavour was a very important, if not key player in the reunification of Italy in the 1800s. His role in Italian unification is widely debated, as are is aims and underlying motives. Many hold contrasting views as to whether he was an Italian nationalist or merely a Piedmontese expansionist, and the subject is still a controversial one to this day. The existence of many wide-ranging sources which often challenge each other on the subject does …showed first 75 words of 1700 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1700 total…too realistic and practical to attempt it in the short-term. These 'steps' were subtle and sometimes seemed contradictory, but the ultimate goal underlying his actions was indeed Italian reunification. A source supporting this theory quotes Cavour as saying "United Italy will be our children's achievement." In this I think he was a nationalist, but not in the sense that Garibaldi was, for instance, in that he was much more subtle and indirect in his approach.