One of the acts that would eventually spark the War for American Independence was when the British government
authorized Writs of Assistance to British officers in the colonies.
This gave government the power to search any residence or business
without any warning, supervision or rules. Soldiers were allowed to walk
from door-to-door, house-to-house, searching and confiscating property
to their hearts’ content.
As is always the case with government power, this policy was widely abused. When the Founding Fathers drafted and ratified the U.S. Constitution, they included the Fourth Amendment — the prohibition of search and seizure — to guarantee that no such affronts to liberty would happen again.
That is, if we follow the Constitution.
As is always the case with government power, this policy was widely abused. When the Founding Fathers drafted and ratified the U.S. Constitution, they included the Fourth Amendment — the prohibition of search and seizure — to guarantee that no such affronts to liberty would happen again.
That is, if we follow the Constitution.
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