To what extent was Napoleon III responsible for the unification of Italy?
Napoleon III’s contribution to the unification of Italy was decisive but inadvertent. He and Cavour had no intention of unifying Italy; Cavour was interested in Piedmontese augmentation, while Napoleon was concerned to put French interests and his family before anything else. He had several reasons to help Cavour, none of which included his desire for a unified Italy. To a great extent, he was responsible for Italian unification.
Count Cavour, the prime minister of Piedmont, carried out economic and industrial developments to try to rebuild Piedmont after the 1848-9 revolutions. He realized he could not expel Austria from Italy without foreign aid. He aimed to obtain such support from the likes of England and France. The British government was not willing to assist him, and he turned to Napoleon III. Cavour set out to win French support by launching extensive social reforms throughout Sardinia and......
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