Final answer:
In Puritan England, a theocracy governed society with a patriarchal structure where the church and state were one, and breaking religious or civil laws led to severe punishments. The Church of England's demand for conformity saw the Puritans as nonconformists and potential threats, leading to increased tension and eventual political upheaval.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Puritan England, politics and religion were intricately linked, forming a theocracy where the church and state were essentially one. Men held the majority of the power, reflecting a patriarchal society. Leadership was concentrated among male church members, who were seen as elect by God. They held both religious and political authority, making church governance and civil law closely intertwined.
Those who broke the religious or civil laws faced severe punishments, as the Puritans believed in strict adherence to biblical doctrine, which they considered the blueprint for a virtuous civil life. Nonconformity to either the church's teachings or the civil rules could lead to sanctions ranging from fines to public shaming or even execution. Religious nonconformists, such as Quakers and others, often faced imprisonment or were forced to leave the community.
The tumultuous relationship between the Church of England and Puritans, especially during the reign of Charles I, epitomized the friction between the established church and the reformers. The outcome of this conflict saw the rise of the Parliamentarians and the temporary establishment of a republic after the execution of Charles I. Many Puritans who had migrated to the New England colonies remained invested in these struggles, as evidenced by the flow of emigrants between England and the Americas in the 1600s.