The failure of the revolutions of 1848 at least had the function of clarifying the Italian situation:
 

• It was clear that the concept of the Pope leading the regeneration of Italy would not work.     In 1849 Pio Nono turned violently against revolution, liberalism, and nationalism. 

• It was equally clear that the Mazzinian solution of all Italians rising as one to liberate           the  peninsula was not going to work either. Not only had there been precious little           coordination  between the revolutions in Italy, but at crucial moments these movements         divided on a class  basis. Finally, the peasantry remained for the most part uninvolved. 
• Piedmont had emerged as the most likely champion of Italy, as Carlo Alberto had                 granted it a constitution in 1848. And it fought for the cause of liberation by declaring          war on Austria, twice. But she had lost both times. The old slogan: “Italia farà da sè,”           (Italy will do it alone) was shown to be impossible. 

These lessons were not lost on Count Camillo Benso di Cavour (Aug. 10, 1810--June 6,
1861), who entered the Piedmontese parliament in 1848 and quickly became its leading
figure. 

Cavour was convinced that outside help was necessary to remove Austrian influence from
Italy. For this reason he tried to win the sympathy of Great Britain and France. From his
youth he had admired Great Britain. Her Parliament, her liberties, and her free trade
embodied  the best of liberal practice. but however well inclined she might be to the liberal
aspirations of Piedmont and however much she deplored the harshness of Austrian rule in
Italy, she would not involve herself in war on the continent for these issues. 

France was another matter. There, the revolutions of 1848 had created the second French
republic, and Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, nephew of the great Napoleon was elected
president. By 1851 he had made himself president for life; a year later, he took the title of
emperor. Anxious to restore the grandeur of France, he dreamed of destroying the Vienna
settlement and of replacing Austrian influence with French. Italy held a special attraction
for him, as during his youth he had been involved with the Carbonari and had fought
against Papal troops in 1831. 

Although sympathetic to Piedmont, it was only in 1858 that Louis Napoleon decided to do
act.  The first step was his meeting with Cavour at Plombières. Here the two natural
conspirators plotted to drive Austria from Italy.