What was the term for the anglophone elites among the governor of Lower Canada who were also Executive or Legislative Council members?

• A. Family Compact
• B. Chateau Clique
• C. Reformers
• D. Responsible Government

Answer: (B)

This item is asking you to name the English-speaking ruling circle in Lower Canada who sat on the high councils of government. In the early 19th century, a small group of wealthy anglophone merchants and lawyers held key positions on both the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, backing the governor and using patronage to maintain their influence. This tight-knit elite came to be known as the Chateau Clique. They operated much like a ruling clique, shaping policy and keeping power within a small circle, and they were the counterpart to Upper Canada’s Family Compact. The Reformers were the opponents pushing for changes to this arrangement, and Responsible Government is the idea that the government should be accountable to elected representatives, not to a privileged circle. So the term that fits this description in Lower Canada is the Chateau Clique.