The third installment of Rowling's series delves into the origins of American wizarding government, also known as MACUSA: the Magical Congress of the United States of America. After many of the corrupt Scourers were punished by the newly formed MACUSA in the 17th century, some escaped and managed to hide out among No-Majs, eventually marrying and procreating with nonmagical folk to the point that their powers were eradicated within the family line. Such families harbored a strong belief in (and hatred of) magic, making it their mission to expose and punish witches and wizards.
Rowling begins by discussing a statute passed in the 1790s by then-MACUSA-President Emily Rappaport, which became known as "Rappaport's Law." The president declared complete segregation of magicians and No-Majs, outlawing friendship, marriage, and nonessential communication between the two communities with harsh punishments to back up the ruling. This law (and the resulting divide between not only magic and nonmagic Americans but also between the American wizarding community and other wizarding provinces) was all set into motion because of a witch named Dorcus Twelvetrees.
Dorcus, the daughter of a high-ranking MACUSA official, was more looks than brains, which eventually became her downfall. Per Rowling's recollection of the witch's historic blunder, Dorcus enjoyed partying and vain pursuits more than the average 18th century witch.
One day, at a local picnic, Dorcus Twelvetrees became greatly enamoured of a handsome No-Maj called Bartholomew Barebone. Unbeknownst to Dorcus, Bartholomew was a Scourer descendant. Nobody in his family was magic, but his belief in magic was profound and unshakeable, as was his conviction that all witches and wizards were evil.
Totally oblivious to the danger, Dorcus took Bartholomew's polite interest in her 'little tricks' at face value. Led on by her beau's artless questions, she confided the secret addresses of both MACUSA and Ilvermorny [the American wizarding school], along with information about the International Confederation of Wizards and all the ways in which these bodies sought to protect and conceal the wizarding community.
In a not-so-shocking turn of events, the magic-hating Bartholomew used Dorcus's spilled information to plot an attack on MACUSA and the wizarding community as a whole. Luckily, his plan went awry in such a way that his own No-Maj government ended up imprisoning him, but the information that Dorcus spilled had been spread throughout No-Maj communities and led to an embarrassing (and dangerous) situation for the American wizarding community. Hence, Rappaport's law was born.
To learn more about the origins of MACUSA and Dorcus Twelvetrees's big mistake, read Rowling's full History of Magic in North America series on Pottermore!
