United States of America

• Type: Country
• Location: North America
• Owner/Residents: American witches and wizards, No-Majs
• Key Features: Home to the Salem Witches' Institute, the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Pottermore), and the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) (Fantastic Beasts).

The United States of America is a large country in North America with a significant, albeit historically secretive, wizarding population. In the original seven novels, the American magical community is primarily referenced through the Salem Witches' Institute and its presence in professional Quidditch. Witches from the Institute were noted to have set up a tent at the Quidditch World Cup in 1994, which featured a banner of the Salem Witch Trials. The country is also known to have professional Quidditch teams, such as the Sweetwater All-Stars from Texas and the Fitchburg Finches from Massachusetts, the latter of which famously had American Seeker Maximus Brankovitch III as its captain. An unnamed American Herbologist was also mentioned in passing at the Leaky Cauldron. Supplementary materials have greatly expanded upon the American wizarding world. The primary magical governing body is the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), founded in 1693, shortly after the Salem Witch Trials, an event which made the American wizarding community deeply suspicious of non-magical people, known domestically as `No-Majs`. (Fantastic Beasts, Pottermore) Historically, American wizarding society was also threatened by Scourers, bands of corrupt wizarding mercenaries who hunted their fellow magical folk for profit. This led to the creation of MACUSA and the eventual implementation of Rappaport's Law in 1790. This law enforced strict segregation between the magical and No-Maj communities, forbidding intermarriage and even friendship, and remained in effect until it was repealed in 1965. (Pottermore) The premier North American school of magic, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is located atop Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. (Pottermore)

In the original Harry Potter series, the United States of America serves a minor world-building role, indicating that the magical world extends far beyond Great Britain. Its presence is confirmed by:

• The appearance of witches from the Salem Witches' Institute at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup.
• Ron Weasley's discussion of American Quidditch teams and players for his Gryffindor team tryouts.
• A passing reference to an American Herbologist's theory on Devil's Snare.

The country and its magical society become the central setting for the `Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them` film, where Newt Scamander visits New York City in 1926. This story explores the workings of MACUSA, the effects of Rappaport's Law, and the relationship between American wizards and No-Majs. (film)

• Salem Witches' Institute: A magical institution for witches. Its exact location within the United States is not specified in the novels.
• Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Located on Mount Greylock, Massachusetts. (Pottermore)
• New York City: A major American city and the primary setting for the first `Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them` film.
  • Woolworth Building: The secret location of the MACUSA headquarters in the 1920s. (Fantastic Beasts)
  • The Blind Pig: A wizarding speakeasy in New York City. (Fantastic Beasts)
• Texas: Home state of the Sweetwater All-Stars Quidditch team.
• Massachusetts: Home state of the Fitchburg Finches Quidditch team.

The vast majority of detailed information regarding the magical United States was created by J.K. Rowling after the completion of the original seven novels, primarily for the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website and the `Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them` film series. J.K. Rowling developed unique terminology for the American magical community, most notably the term No-Maj (short for “No Magic”) as the equivalent of the British term Muggle. The historical background, including the Scourers and Rappaport's Law, was written to reflect the distinct history and culture of the United States, particularly the period of European colonization and the subsequent atmosphere of paranoia exemplified by the Salem Witch Trials.