Blackman compellingly re-assesses the dynamics of the first French National Assembly in 1789, demonstrating how many of the era’s striking shifts were the result of compromises made amid a political crisis, rather than extreme proposals forced through by doctrinaire radicals. His analysis successfully challenges that of prominent “post-revisionist” historians, including Baker and Friedland, who argue that the decision making during the Revolution’s first year paved the way for the Terror of 1793/4.1
Whereas previous scholars like Tackett, Linton, and Shapiro researched the backgrounds, culture, and psychology of the deputies to understand their decision-making process, Blackman instead focuses on several important debates about turning the Estates General into a National Assembly, abolishing the obligation of deputies to follow the instructions of their constituents, and selecting the form of veto accorded to the king under the new constitution.2 In so doing, he develops an unprecedented source base of newspapers and...