The Edict of Tolerance was a religious reform of Joseph II, during the time he was emperor of the Habsburg Monarchy. His religious reform known as the Edict of Tolerance was composed of two separate laws one was enacted in 1781 and the second in 1782 Both of the edicts were aimed at different groups, but the main goal for both of them was to bring about religious unity. When Joseph II enacted both edicts, he was also inspired by economic motives . The slow emigration of the Protestant population out of Austria would have eventually lead up to an economic slump, this is the second purpose for enacting religious tolerance.