The Fourth Amendment was the founding generation's response to the reviled 'general warrants' and 'writs of assistance' of the colonial era. The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures during multiple circumstances, including traffic stops.In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government from conducting unreasonable searches and seizures. As with the other amendments we've discussed thus far, the Fourth Amendment was rooted in the long tradition of English Common Law. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people from random and arbitrary stops and searches. ABDELFATAH: Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. As a part of his punishment, his ears were cut off in the pillories at.