A man's home : James Otis

Duration: 0:20:13

Genre: Adaptation | Drama | Historical | Sponsored

Year Published: 1954

Creator: Indiana University Audio-Visual Center: Distributor | Indiana University Instructional Support Services | Teaching Film Custodians: Distributor | Teaching Film Custodians

Format: 16mm

Color: B&W

Sound: sound

Description: Teaching Film Custodians abridged classroom version of a Cavalcade of America television series episode, "A Man's Home" (season 3, episode 10), which originally aired December 28, 1954 on ABC-TV. Presents the courage, wisdom, and integrity of James Otis, the Massachusetts-born King's Advocate General, who, in 1760, resigned his lucrative and influential position rather than support Royal Governor Bernard's issuance of Writs of Assistance. Shows Otis agreeing to take the case of Boston merchants opposing the issuance of Writs whereby customs officials could invade private homes to make illegal searches and seizures. Points out that Otis' argument provided the basis of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution--freedom from illegal search and seizure.

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