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...colonies, effective government was in the hands of the lieutenant governor and an oligarchy that dominated the legislative and executive councils. In Upper Canada this ruling elite was known as the Family Compact; in Lower Canada it was called the Château Clique. A similarly tightly knit group also dominated Nova Scotia politics. Forming the inner circle of the governor’s advisers, these...
From 1815 to 1840 the province was dominated by a conservative oligarchy known as the “Family Compact,” alleged to be an elite tied together by family relationships. Even when this group lost its majority in the elected legislative assembly, as happened twice, it continued to control the legislative council (the appointed upper house) and the lieutenant governor’s executive council...
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