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THE ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY COMPACT:
UPPER CANADA'S ARISTOCRACY

History is a gallery of personalities.

Review Questions

Vocabulary:
oligarchy; cabinet; colonial elite; aristocracy; artificers; affluence; semi-literate; clique; patronage, expatriation,scion, plenitude,

1. (a) Explain the term 'levelling tendencies' and its source, and why Simcoe was distrustful of those having such leanings? (b) Why did many Loyalists have 'such leanings'?

2. Why was Simcoe was so dedicated to establishing an aristocratic society in the wilderness?

3. Officials held their offices during 'good behaviour'. What did this mean?

4. Why did some officials feel they were becoming the "sport of fortune"?

5. Colonists initially accepted the concentration of power in the hands of a select few? (a) How do you accout for this?

6. Simcoe's society was predicated on position and privilege. Explain.

7. Why was he certain such types would be trustworthy and supportive of the status quo?

8. Simcoe built better than he knew for the Family Compact grew and prospered and occupied an increasingly critical place in the life of his little society. (a)Briefly describe the Family Compact and its role in society. (b)Its impact on the province was both positive and negative. Explain.

9. The lieutenant governors following Simcoe were 'mostly ruled' rather than assisted by the Executive Council. (a)What does this tell you about the governors? the Executive Council?

10. Explain: (a) primitive state of the colony; (b) failed most signally; (c) entirely subservient to their influence; (d) attain such plenitude of power; (e) semblance of self-government.

11. In many ways the following excerpt summarizes what ailed the colony and what ultimately caused the rebellion. "In none did it (the Compact) wield the sceptre of authority with so thorough an indifference to the principles of right and wrong." Explain the quote and indicate why it led to force of arms.

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