Final answer:
The unification of Italy was significantly driven by the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia under Victor Emmanuel II and his minister Count Camillo di Cavour, who used a strategic foreign policy to expand their influence and shape a new Italian nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The unification of Italy, a significant historical process in the 19th century, saw the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia taking the lead under the rule of Victor Emmanuel II and his astute minister Count Camillo di Cavour. Initially an independent state, Piedmont-Sardinia capitalized on the geopolitical tensions of the time to assert itself as a formidable power, navigating the complex political landscape following the Napoleonic era.
Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia, known for his grandiose mustache and military diplomacy, outlined an ambition fueled less by domestic policy and more by the allure of foreign policy and military achievements. His hands-off approach to internal affairs left a window of opportunity for his capable ministers, notably Cavour, who harbored plans to expand Piedmontese influence through the cause of Italian nationalism without any innate desire for a unified Italy purely for the sake of national identity.
Cavour was not initially interested in the inclusion of southern Italy in his plans for unification, viewing the region with a certain disdain as shared by many northern Italians of the time. Consequently, post-unification, southern Italy faced economic hardships, such as higher taxes and struggling local industries due to the embrace of Piedmont's tariffs. The lack of adequate public works and infrastructure in the South compounded these issues, illuminating the disparities that emerged from the unification process.
Cavour ingeniously manipulated the geopolitical dynamics of the era to further Piedmont's ascendancy. He aligned with France to exploit the rivalry with Austria, leading to the weakening of the Habsburg Empire and the eventual expulsion of Austrians from northern Italy. In the accord with France, Piedmont-Sardinia even ceded Nice in exchange for continued French support. Thereby, Piedmont-Sardinia, with Cavour's strategic acumen, forged a new Italian nation that transcended its initial roles as a buffer state and elevated it to the epicenter of a new, united Italy.