The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the Fourth Amendment.Debates over the scope of unreasonable searches and seizures sparked the American Revolution as we'll learn in a moment. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. To allow otherwise would unmoor the exception from its justifications, render hollow the core Fourth. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. 4th Amendment (1791):. Citizens cannot be forced to subject themselves to seizure and search without a search warrant and probable cause. Then the question becomes how good that reason must be.