The act was prompted by the failure of King William III and Queen Mary II, as well as of Mary's sister Queen Anne, to produce any surviving children, and the Roman Catholic religion of all other members of the House of Stuart.
Undang-undang tersebut dikeluarkan akibat kegagalan Raja William III dan Ratu Mary II, serta saudari Mary Ratu Anne, untuk menghasilkan satupun anak, dan agama Katolik Roma dari seluruh anggota lainnya dari Wangsa Stuart.