Constitution 101 Resources

11.7 Activity Guide: Speech on the Writs of Assistance

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This activity is part of Module 11: The Fourth Amendment from the Constitution 101 Curriculum


In this activity, you will learn more about the founding story of the Fourth Amendment and gain insight into the origins of the Fourth Amendment. 

Read the primary source by James Otis (1761) and answer the following questions.

  • Who was James Otis?
  • What did he argue?
  • Define a “writ of assistance.”
  • How does Otis’s speech play into the Fourth Amendment story?
  • Name two state constitutions that influenced the Fourth Amendment? (optional)


 


 
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