What were the search warrants called that allowed British officers to enter colonial homes or businesses to search for smuggled goods?
Writs of assistance
The search warrants that allowed British officers to enter colonial homes or businesses in order to search for smuggled goods were called writs of assistance. These writs were general search warrants that did not expire, and they allowed officers to search any location they believed might contain smuggled goods. The writs of assistance were first used in the colonies in the mid-18th century, and they were a major point of contention between the colonists and the British government, who argued that the writs were necessary for tax collection and the enforcement of trade laws. Many colonists saw the writs as an infringement on their rights, and the use of writs of assistance was one of the factors that contributed to the tensions that led to the American Revolution.
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