What were all-purpose warrants referred to in early colonial America?

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All-purpose warrants were referred to as "writs of assistance" in early colonial America. These were issued by British officials and allowed them to search any location for smuggled goods without specifying a particular location or person to be searched. This practice was one of the key grievances that colonists had against British rule and it was one of the reasons that the Fourth Amendment was added to the Constitution to protect against unreasonable searches and seizures.

What Were All-Purpose Warrants Referred to in Early Colonial America