How was the unification of Italy achieved?

The unification of Italy was primarily achieved through the strategic political and military efforts of key leaders like Giuseppe Garibaldi and Count Cavour. Both played significant roles in orchestrating the unification process during the 19th century. Count Cavour, as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia, utilized diplomacy and political maneuvers to garner support and make alliances, particularly with France, to combat Austrian control in northern Italy. His approach included a series of conflicts and alliances designed to expand Sardinian territory and influence.

Giuseppe Garibaldi was a charismatic nationalist leader who led the famous Expedition of the Thousand, where he and his followers played a crucial role in the capture of Sicily and Naples. His military campaigns were vital in liberating southern Italy and integrating it into the unified Italian state. Together, these leaders combined military action with political strategy, rallying popular support for the cause of unification, ultimately culminating in the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

The other options do not accurately reflect the main processes of Italian unification, which were heavily driven by active leadership and military efforts rather than the events or figures suggested in those alternatives.