The British Party, also known as the Chateau Clique, was made up of the British executives and wealthy businessmen. They controlled the executive and legislative councils. They wanted:

• laws which promoted business
• construction of canals and railways
• assimilation of the French
• union with Upper Canada
• taxes on property

The Parti Canadien, also known as the Parti Patriote, was made up largely of French professionals who had the support of the people. They were elected to the Assembly which they controlled. They wanted: responsible government to keep the seigneurial system and French civil law to protect the French language and culture taxes on business to pay for roads to avoid spending money on projects which only benefitted the English government budgets to be controlled by the legislative assembly an elected legislative council