Magic in North America (MACUSA Approved Guide)
written by Nyx Lumiere
Bringing to light the rich history of the American Wizarding Community.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
5
Reads
6,550
An In-Depth Overview of M.A.C.U.S.A.
Chapter 4
The Magical Congress of the United States of America (shortened MACUSA) is the magical body in charge of governing the wizarding population of the United States of America. It is led by the President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Unlike the No-Maj United States Congress, which is divided into a House of Representatives and a Senate, the MACUSA is unicameral. The MACUSA is located within the Woolworth Building in downtown New York City and has hundreds of stories.
The MACUSA performs many of the same functions as other wizarding governing bodies in other countries such as the Ministries of Magic or Councils of Magic.
MACUSA: Early Years
The Magical Congress of the United States of America was established in 1693 with the introduction of the International Statute of Secrecy, as a direct result of the Salem Witch Trials, thus pre-dating the No-Maj government by around a century. It was modelled on the Wizards’ Council of Great Britain. Many representatives from several communities in North America were elected to create laws. One of them was Josiah Jackson who became the first President of MACUSA. Josiah was thought to be strong enough to deal with the troubles caused by the Salem Witch Trials.
The first task of the North American wizarding legislature was to put on trial the Scourers, a unscrupulous and brutal band of wizarding bounty hunters and racketeers, executing those convicted of murder, wizard-trafficking, and torture. Josiah Jackson main priority when he became President was to create and train Aurors. There were only a select few to start with with only two of the them surviving to old age. They won the enduring respect of the magic community in North America which was extended to their descendants.
MACUSA has had to move its location at least five times since its inception. Originally, MACUSA had no definite meeting place and moved around so it would not be detected by No-Majs.
Due to the fact that America had a very hostile relationship between magical and non magical people, there was no co-operation between MACUSA and the No-Maj government.
Eventually, MACUSA created an enchanted edifice in the Appalachian Mountains as their headquarters. However, they had to change it as it was in an inconvenient location.
In 1760, MACUSA relocated to Williamsburg in Virginia where it’s then President Thornton Harkaway lived. Harkaway bred Crups which possess a great aggression towards non-magical people. When the crups attacked local No-Majs, it led to a great breach of the Statute of Secrecy and Harkaway had to step down due to disgrace.
MACUSA then relocated to Baltimore where President Able Fleming lived. However, when the Revolutionary War began which led to the arrival of the No-Maj Congress to the city, MACUSA decided to move to Washington.
In 1777, then President Elizabeth McGilliguddy presided over the infamous Country or Kind? debate. It was an extraordinary meeting which led to the expansion of the Great Meeting Chamber. They discussed whether to support their community or their country and whether to fight for liberation from the British Muggles. They also debated whether it was really their fight. The argument did not go well and it led to a fight. Pro-interventionists argued that by intervening, they could save lives while anti-interventionists believed that they would reveal their community by intervening and place it in danger. They sought the advice of the Ministry of Magic to find out whether they intended to intervene on their side and they replied with only a four word letter — “Sitting this one out”. McGilliguddy replied with an even shorter message stating — “Mind you do”. Ultimately, they did not intervene but they did attempt to protect their No-Maj neighbours unofficially and celebrated Independence Day.
Due to the indiscretions of the dim-witted witch Dorcus Twelvetrees, the then President Emily Rappaport created Rappaport’s Law which would enforce strict segregation between the No-Maj and wizarding communities. Henceforth wizards were no longer allowed to befriend or marry No-Majs and penalties of such fraternisation were harsh. Communication was also limited to that necessary to perform daily activities. During this tim
in a light-hearted moment, the then President Seraphina Picquery stated that being a wizard or witch in America was already hard enough and at one point famously told her Chief of Staff that the “Gigglewater” was non-negotiable.
Macusa Headquarters
In the 1920s, MACUSA’s main hall within the Woolworth Building was several hundred feet tall, filled with light and featuring black and gold accents. It contained a large Magical Exposure Threat Level Measurer above the front staircase along with a magical portrait of President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America Seraphina Picquery.
At the centre of the main room was a monument with four columns featuring Phoenix statues. In the middle was a group of statues commemorating those who died in the Salem Witch Trials. Under the monument are four words — Integritas, Unitas, Virtus, Magia which mean Integrity, Unity, Valour, and Magic. Around the exterior of the hall were desks and columns topped with statues of the original twelve Aurors.
Law Enforcement
The first dozen volunteers to train as Aurors in the US have a special place in United States’ wizarding history, in part due to their sacrifice. Their descendants have been given particular respect ever since. Of these twelve, only two survived into old age: Charity Wilkinson, who would become MACUSA’s third President, and Theodard Fontaine, whose direct descendant Agilbert is the present day Headmaster of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The MACUSA performs many of the same functions as other wizarding governing bodies in other countries such as the Ministries of Magic or Councils of Magic.
MACUSA: Early Years
The Magical Congress of the United States of America was established in 1693 with the introduction of the International Statute of Secrecy, as a direct result of the Salem Witch Trials, thus pre-dating the No-Maj government by around a century. It was modelled on the Wizards’ Council of Great Britain. Many representatives from several communities in North America were elected to create laws. One of them was Josiah Jackson who became the first President of MACUSA. Josiah was thought to be strong enough to deal with the troubles caused by the Salem Witch Trials.
The first task of the North American wizarding legislature was to put on trial the Scourers, a unscrupulous and brutal band of wizarding bounty hunters and racketeers, executing those convicted of murder, wizard-trafficking, and torture. Josiah Jackson main priority when he became President was to create and train Aurors. There were only a select few to start with with only two of the them surviving to old age. They won the enduring respect of the magic community in North America which was extended to their descendants.
MACUSA has had to move its location at least five times since its inception. Originally, MACUSA had no definite meeting place and moved around so it would not be detected by No-Majs.
Due to the fact that America had a very hostile relationship between magical and non magical people, there was no co-operation between MACUSA and the No-Maj government.
Eventually, MACUSA created an enchanted edifice in the Appalachian Mountains as their headquarters. However, they had to change it as it was in an inconvenient location.
In 1760, MACUSA relocated to Williamsburg in Virginia where it’s then President Thornton Harkaway lived. Harkaway bred Crups which possess a great aggression towards non-magical people. When the crups attacked local No-Majs, it led to a great breach of the Statute of Secrecy and Harkaway had to step down due to disgrace.
MACUSA then relocated to Baltimore where President Able Fleming lived. However, when the Revolutionary War began which led to the arrival of the No-Maj Congress to the city, MACUSA decided to move to Washington.
In 1777, then President Elizabeth McGilliguddy presided over the infamous Country or Kind? debate. It was an extraordinary meeting which led to the expansion of the Great Meeting Chamber. They discussed whether to support their community or their country and whether to fight for liberation from the British Muggles. They also debated whether it was really their fight. The argument did not go well and it led to a fight. Pro-interventionists argued that by intervening, they could save lives while anti-interventionists believed that they would reveal their community by intervening and place it in danger. They sought the advice of the Ministry of Magic to find out whether they intended to intervene on their side and they replied with only a four word letter — “Sitting this one out”. McGilliguddy replied with an even shorter message stating — “Mind you do”. Ultimately, they did not intervene but they did attempt to protect their No-Maj neighbours unofficially and celebrated Independence Day.
Due to the indiscretions of the dim-witted witch Dorcus Twelvetrees, the then President Emily Rappaport created Rappaport’s Law which would enforce strict segregation between the No-Maj and wizarding communities. Henceforth wizards were no longer allowed to befriend or marry No-Majs and penalties of such fraternisation were harsh. Communication was also limited to that necessary to perform daily activities. During this tim
in a light-hearted moment, the then President Seraphina Picquery stated that being a wizard or witch in America was already hard enough and at one point famously told her Chief of Staff that the “Gigglewater” was non-negotiable.
Macusa Headquarters
In the 1920s, MACUSA’s main hall within the Woolworth Building was several hundred feet tall, filled with light and featuring black and gold accents. It contained a large Magical Exposure Threat Level Measurer above the front staircase along with a magical portrait of President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America Seraphina Picquery.
At the centre of the main room was a monument with four columns featuring Phoenix statues. In the middle was a group of statues commemorating those who died in the Salem Witch Trials. Under the monument are four words — Integritas, Unitas, Virtus, Magia which mean Integrity, Unity, Valour, and Magic. Around the exterior of the hall were desks and columns topped with statues of the original twelve Aurors.
Law Enforcement
The first dozen volunteers to train as Aurors in the US have a special place in United States’ wizarding history, in part due to their sacrifice. Their descendants have been given particular respect ever since. Of these twelve, only two survived into old age: Charity Wilkinson, who would become MACUSA’s third President, and Theodard Fontaine, whose direct descendant Agilbert is the present day Headmaster of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
