Question

The English gin craze of the 18th century occurred because:

1) gin production was unregulated and untaxed
2) gin was inexpensive to produce and from indigenous grain
3) supplies of brandy dried up for political reasons
4) all of the above

Answer 1

The English gin craze of the 18th century was motivated by unregulated and untaxed production, its cost-effectiveness using local grain, and the political disruption of brandy supplies.

Step-by-step explanation:

The English gin craze of the 18th century occurred for a combination of reasons:

1. Gin production was unregulated and untaxed, which made it easy for production to grow rapidly.
2. Gin was inexpensive to produce using indigenous grain, making it accessible to a wider population.
3. Supplies of brandy dried up for political reasons, namely the wars with France which disrupted the brandy trade, pushing people towards alternative spirits like gin.

All of these factors contributed to the prevalence of gin and the resulting social problems that alarmed reformers and eventually led to regulation attempts.