In 1914, Alabama produced 1.7 million bales of cotton, but three years later produced only 515,000, bales. Meanwhile, in Georgia, 5.2 million acres of land was dedicated for cotton production in 1914, but by 1923 there were just 2.6 million acres used for growing cotton. What might BEST explain the situation represented in this passage?

Respuesta :

Answer:

The decrease in cotton production in the American South during the 1910s was due to the irruption of Boll Weevil.

Explanation:

The boll weevil is an insect native of Central America, which feeds mainly on cotton.

In 1904, the boll weevil was reported in Louisiana and crossed the Mississippi River in 1908, reaching southeastern Alabama. It became the most destructive pest of North America in the mid-1920s, affecting all areas of cotton production in the United States.

During the 1920s, the insect helped to impoverish farmers in the southern United States, already affected by the Great Depression.

Answer: The presence of the boll weevil

Explanation: