In 1778, in an attempt to suppress the colonial uprising
later known as the American Revolution, King George III promised Septimus
Malfoy land and wealth if he would use his influence over then-Minster of Magic
Unctuous Osbert to have aurors sent to the New World as mercenaries for the
crown. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce signed between the United States and France in February of that year had raised great concern in Brittan, and King George III desperately needed an advantage. To his great relief, Malfoy was successful; a handful of wizards were sent to America
with the order to quell the rebellion at any cost.

British Major General William Howe, a muggle, was replaced as Commander-in-Chief for North America by General Henry Clinton, a wizard already secretly serving the muggle king. When the wizards chosen by Osbert arrived in the New World, Clinton discovered their magical prowess was matched only by their brutality. Clinton used them to great effect. His successful retreat to New York, capture of Savannah, and temporary capture of Augusta were all magically aided. Most famously, one of Clinton's mercenaries also managed to bewitch American General Benedict Arnold into surrendering his command of the American fortifications at West Point, a plot that was ultimately discovered and thwarted.

In 1780, representatives
from all thirteen colonies as well as eight native American tribes (now known
as The Twenty One) gathered in Philadelphia to vote on whether or not they
should reveal themselves to American General George Washington and fight the growing, magical
threat. The debate lasted long into the night. Nearly every member of the group agreed revealing themselves to be dangerous. Some raised the issue of the International Statute of Secrecy. Others raised the colonial witch trials. The ultimate vote was 11-10 in favor, and they met with Washington that night.

With magical aid, the American victory came quickly. In the aftermath of the war, The Twenty One led the witches and wizards of the United States to formally found the United States Department of Magic in 1789. Washington and Joseph Giffen, the first Secretary of Magic, worked closely together during their respective tenures in office, laying the foundation for a lasting muggle and magical cooperation.