Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
British troops were only allowed the use of roof, fire and salt. Any thing else had to be agreed on and paid for and except in enemy territory and sometimes even there British military law was strict and enforced..of course there were exceptions, but that was frowned upon and it was considered cheaper for the crown and the town than building army barracks. So why the problem in 1776 and not say in 1758?
Simple In 1776 the Americans felt that the British troops could and would act as spies in their homes. After all if you have a redcoat or two in the house,it is not healthy to say you are mad at the king or that you support the revolution! So as the Americans considered their home their castle, an idea we got from the Brits, this, (quartering) was seen as a grave assault of the right of the Private home.
Tomorrow: the Fourth Amendment
British troops were only allowed the use of roof, fire and salt. Any thing else had to be agreed on and paid for and except in enemy territory and sometimes even there British military law was strict and enforced..of course there were exceptions, but that was frowned upon and it was considered cheaper for the crown and the town than building army barracks. So why the problem in 1776 and not say in 1758?
Simple In 1776 the Americans felt that the British troops could and would act as spies in their homes. After all if you have a redcoat or two in the house,it is not healthy to say you are mad at the king or that you support the revolution! So as the Americans considered their home their castle, an idea we got from the Brits, this, (quartering) was seen as a grave assault of the right of the Private home.
Tomorrow: the Fourth Amendment
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