Final answer:
Lower Canada faced disadvantages post-Act of Union, including political underrepresentation, loss of French language rights, and feeling like second-class citizens, which culminated in the conscription crisis during the election of 1917.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disadvantages to Lower Canada associated with The Act of Union were significant. First and foremost, there was an underrepresentation of French-speaking Canadians in the new government, as English-speaking Canadians were afforded a greater number of seats. Secondly, the Act of Union led to the erasure of French language rights, especially in education, which further marginalized French Canadians culturally and politically. Additionally, the economic control and political decisions often favored the interests of English Canada, leaving French Canadians feeling like second-class citizens. Tensions from these disadvantages manifested in violent ways, such as the riots against conscription in Montreal and Quebec City, a topic which bitterly divided English and French Canadians during the election of 1917. Overall, while The Act of Union was meant to unite Upper and Lower Canada, it also institutionalized systemic disadvantages for French Canadians, thereby planting seeds of discontent that would have lasting historical consequences.