BOLL WEEVILGeorgia Studies

DO BUGS HAVE A PURPOSE? A Bug's Life - Clip (48106)

BUG SELECTION#1 Sand Gnat #3Cockroach

#2 Mosquito #2 Mosquito #4 Boll Weevil

BOLL WEEVIL MONUMENT: ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA

LOSS OF FULL COTTON YIELDMAKE TWO GRAPHS OUT OF THE INFORMATION GIVENBar GraphCreate a bar graph based on

these data. % Loss of Full Cotton Yield Due

to Boll Weevil (Georgia): 1915-1939

 1915: 0%1918: 11%1921: 45%1924: 15%1927: 18%1930: 7%1933: 8%1936: 6%1939: 14%

Line GraphCreate a line graph based on

the data provided…

% of African Americans Living in Urban Areas 1890-19301890: 20%1900: 23%1910; 27%1920: 34%1930: 44%

COMPARE YOUR TWO GRAPHS. ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET, WRITE THREE GENERALIZATIONS BASED ON THESE DATA.

LOSS OF FULL COTTON YIELDCORRECT FORMAT FOR THE BAR GRAPH

0

25

50

1915 1918 1921 1924 1927 1930 1933 1936 1939

11

45

1518

7 86

LOSS OF FULL COTTON YIELDCORRECT FORMAT FOR THE BAR GRAPH

0

25

50

1890 1900 1910 1920 1930

2023

27

34

45

THE BOLL WEEVIL

BOLL WEEVIL DESTRUCTION

HARDSHIPS OF THE SOUTH A boll weevil is a small, gray, long-snouted beetle that

attacks the cotton plant. Originally came from Mexico The larvae feed on the white, fluffy cotton resulting in vast

destruction of crops. Droughts in Georgia result in devastation of crops,

leaving a lower supply of food for families and their animals. In addition to the boll weevil, Georgia farmers have been hurt

primarily by droughts. The 1924 drought resulted in: workers moving away to seek

jobs, a decline in the number of working farms, and banks facing losses of assets (due to the money they had previously loaned to farmers).

Although the drought had harsh effects on other crops it DID slow down the destruction of the boll weevil on the cotton plants.

BOLL WEEVIL SONG BY BROOK BENTON (1961)

Let me tell ya a story about a boll weevilNow, some of you may not knowBut a boll weevil is an insectAnd he's found mostly where cotton growsNow, where he comes from, hm, nobody really knowsBut this is the way the story goes

The farmer said to the boll weevil"I see you're on the square"Boll weevil said to the farmer"Say yep, my whole darn family's here"

The farmer said to the boll weevil"Say, why do you pick my farm"The weevil just laughed at the farmer 'n' said"We ain't gonna do ya much harm"Ho-o-o-o-o,-o-o-o, -o-o-o, o-o-ome“

And the boll weevil spotted a lightning bug.He said "Hey, I'd like to make a trade with youBut, ya see if I was a lightning bugI'd search the whole night through"

And the boll weevil called the farmer, 'n' he said"Ya better sell your old machines'Cause when I'm through with your cottonHeh, you can't even buy gasoline"Stake me a home, gotta have a home

And the boll weevil said to the farmer, said " FarmerI'd like to wish you well"Farmer said to the boll weevil"Yeah, an' I wish that you were in ****" homeLookin' for a homeAhh, you have a home all right, you have a homeA real hot home, ahhh

"BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME“LYRICS BY YIP HARBURG, MUSIC BY JAY GORNEY (1931)They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,

When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job. They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead, Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

 Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time. Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime; Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

 Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum! Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time. Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

 Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum!

 Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time. Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

ECONOMIC MUSIC CHART ANSWERSArtist/Title Date Written Initial

ThoughtsWhat Economic Event is Discussed?

What was the Writer Trying to Imply about the Event?

Primary or Secondary Source?

Brook Benton“The Boll Weevil Song”

1961 Answers will vary

Boil Weevil destruction of the cotton plant in the 1920’s and 1930’s

The Boil Weevil was destructive, people should have sympathy for farmers

Secondary, recorded after the event

Yip Harburg“Brother can you Spare a Dime”

1931 Answers will vary

The Great Depression. A former WWI soldier and hard worker is “down on his luck” because of the depression.

People who work hard are also affected by the depression and people should have sympathy for them and not treat them poorly for being unemployed.

Primary, written during the event

MayorRoach Tucci

Vote For Me!

EXIT TICKET1. The boll weevil monument in Enterprise, Alabama, was created because the boll

weevil forced people in the south to A. diversify their economy. B. move from urban to rural areas. C. create an economy based solely on one crop. D. grow more cotton to compensate for the boll weevil’s destruction.

 2. The boll weevil and drought of 1924 forced both Southern Blacks and Whites to A. move from urban to rural areas to find jobs. B. move from rural to urban areas to find jobs. C. work together to overcome their economic hardships. D. move from Northern cities to Southern cities to find jobs.

 3. Brother can You Spare a Dime is a primary source written about which major economic event? A. the Panic of 1837. B. the Great Migration. C. the Drought of 1924. D. the Great Depression.