Hanoverian succession
Established by the Act of Settlement (1701). In order to prevent James Edward Stuart, the Catholic son of James II, to become king, the line of succession was passed on to Sophia of Hanover and her heirs. After Queen Anne's death, George I succeeded her. The Personal Union of the English and Hanoverian monarchy lasted from 1714 until 1837 when Queen Victoria inherited the throne.
Establishing the Hanoverian succession
The establishment of the Hanoverian rule is a consequence of the changes following the Glorious Revolution. William and Mary were made joint rulers with the Parliament's consent. However, they had to agree to the Bill of Rights which ruled that no Catholic can inherit the throne. After their deaths, Mary's sister Anne became queen. During her time in power, she and her Parliament passed the Act of Settlement which regulated the line of succession because just like her sister, Anne had no children. The next in line to ascend the throne would have been James Francis Edward Stuart, son of James II. As he was a Catholic, however, this scenario was unacceptable for the protestant elite in England. The Gunpowder Plot and the notorious reign of Queen Mary are only two examples that contributed to a very reserved position towards Catholicism.
George I inherits the English throne
The end of the Hanoverian succession
Sources
Simms, Brendan. The Hanoverian dimension in British history. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Wende, Peter. Englische Könige und Königinnen der Neuzeit. München: C.H.Beck, 2008.