A "writ of assistance" was:
A) an order to the public to assist police officers in arresting suspected smugglers
B) a blanket search warrant that did not specify the place to be searched
C) the legal order that guaranteed trial by jury
D) a government document used to assess criminal fines on colonists suspected of smuggling
E) official permission to unload cargo in a colonial port

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A "writ of assistance" was a blanket search warrant that did not specify the place to be searched. It allowed British officials to search any location they suspected of housing smuggled goods, without having to obtain a warrant for each specific location. This was seen as a violation of colonists' rights to privacy and freedom from unreasonable searches.

A "Writ of Assistance" Was