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Family Compact

The Family Compact – so-called by its Reform opponents – was a group of administrative officers and government supporters in the legislature of Upper Canada who were bound together by friendships and common interests. This group had fought together in the War of 1812 and was distinguished by support of the British connection, opposition to the United States, a desire to assimilate French Canadians into a “British” culture, and support of commercial development and the construction of public works. Bishop John Strachan was the Compact spokesman on religious and educational matters, while John Beverley Robinson led the group in the Legislative Assembly. The Reformers nevertheless attributed more unity of purpose to the Compact than in fact existed; on banking, land, education, and religious policy, the group was not always in agreement.

Related Biographies

ALLAN, WILLIAM
APPLETON, THOMAS
ARTHUR, Sir GEORGE
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BIDWELL, BARNABAS
BIDWELL, MARSHALL SPRING
BOULTON, D’ARCY (baptized George D’Arcy) (1759-1834)
BOULTON, HENRY JOHN
BOULTON, WILLIAM HENRY
BOWMAN, JAMES (1793-1842)
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ELMSLEY, JOHN (1801-63)
FAIRBANKS, CHARLES RUFUS
FISHER, CHARLES
FOTHERGILL, CHARLES
FRENCH, CHARLES
GORE, FRANCIS
GOWAN, OGLE ROBERT
GRANT, ALEXANDER
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Other Resources

19th Century | The Canada Guide
ARCHIVED - Upper Canada - Towards Confederation - Canadian Confederation - Library and Archives Canada. Content archived on 26 Nov. 2019
Black History Canada - Timeline 1800-1900. Content archived on 19 Feb. 2020
Canada A Country by Consent: Family Compact & Chateau Clique
Early Canada Historical Narratives -- The Origin of the Family Compact: Upper Canada's Aristocracy
Elections Canada Online | A History of the Vote in Canada
Family Compact. Content archived on 26 Nov. 2019
Family Compact - The Canadian Encyclopedia. Content archived on 9 Dec. 2024
Family Compact - Wikipedia
Family Compact | Canadian political group | Britannica.com
Rebellions of 1837 | Canadian history | Britannica.com
Reform Movement in Upper Canada - The Canadian Encyclopedia. Content archived on 5 July 2024
Religious History of Canada - Religion in Canada - Quebec History
Summary | Canadian History: Pre-Confederation
The Colonial Regime and the "Family Compact"
The Reform Movement (Upper Canada) - Wikipedia
To Canada and Back Again: Immigration from the United States on the Underground Railroad (1840-1860) | Pier 21
Upper Canada – Societies and Territories
Upper Canada - Wikipedia

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