The turning point at which Europe failed to turn. How accurately does this describe the impact of the 1848 revolutions in either Italy or Germany?

Abstract

In January 1848, popular discontent towards the situation on the Italian peninsula manifested itself in the outbreak of revolution, which continued throughout the year and into 1849. This, known as the 1848 revolutions, was provoked by socio-economic factors like unemployment and poor harvests, resentment against Austrian rule, and a general desire for greater liberalism. In my opinion, it is largely accurate to describe the impact of the 1848 revolutions in Italy as "the turning point at which Europe failed to turn", in the words of a famous judgement by G.M. Trevelyan.

This is to say that the revolutions were a crucial pivotal juncture after which Italian unification took on a different direction and nature, despite the fact that they did not succeed in unifying Italy. The failure of the 1848 revolutions is evident when the rulers of the respective states were reinstated; however, the 1848 revolutions, in my opinion, was nonetheless a turning point by virtue of exposing Austrian weakness, determining Piedmont as the leading force, and defining more clearly the nature and direction of the road to Italian unification.