Family Compact

E51284

The Family Compact was a small, conservative elite that dominated the political and economic life of Upper Canada in the early 19th century, resisting democratic reforms and contributing to the tensions that led to the Rebellions of 1837.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf conservative faction
oligarchy
political elite
ruling clique
activeInPeriod early 19th century
associatedWithEvent Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837
contributedTo causes of the Rebellions of 1837 in Upper Canada
controlled Executive Council of Upper Canada
country Upper Canada
declinedAfter Durham Report
Rebellions of 1837
dominated banking sector of Upper Canada
judiciary of Upper Canada
land administration in Upper Canada
favoured landed interests
merchant elite
governanceStyle authoritarian
patronage-based
hadStrongTiesTo Anglican Church
Church of England clergy reserves
historicalSignificance symbol of oligarchic rule in Canadian history
ideology conservatism
influenced Legislative Council of Upper Canada
economy of Upper Canada
politics of Upper Canada
language English
locatedIn British North America
present-day Ontario
maintained close ties to British imperial authorities
opposed American-style republicanism
democratic reform
expansion of the franchise
responsible government
politicalPosition right-wing
politicalSystemContext colonial government of Upper Canada
promoted Anglicization of Upper Canada
relatedConcept Château Clique
resisted elected assembly influence
popular control over government
socialComposition British loyalist elite
small group of interrelated families
supported Anglican Church dominance
British colonial rule
used patronage to maintain power
wasCriticizedBy Reformers in Upper Canada
William Lyon Mackenzie


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