Final answer:
The influence of the Puritan church and government was significant in shaping early American democracy by embedding a strong legislative framework and establishing a theocracy rather than an initial promotion of religious freedom or democracy. Post-independence, the movement toward a separative state from the church and towards republicanism marked a departure from Puritan values.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Puritan church and government heavily influenced the early development of American democracy. The Puritans of Massachusetts Bay sought to reform the Church of England rather than separate from it, unlike the Pilgrims. They established a theocratic society where the church had significant control over the government, as evident in Massachusetts where the Congregational Church remained dominant. Puritanism in the New England states supported a blend of republicanism with the goal of promoting Protestant Christianity, as reflected in Article III of the Massachusetts constitution.
This Puritan influence paved the way for a structured government, evident in the General Court of the Puritan colonies, which served as the legislative branch. However, this setting was not prone to religious freedom as the Puritans had a state-sponsored religion, opposing the idea of a diversified faith system. It was after the Revolution that the established churches were questioned and the separation of the church from the state began to take form, leading to the First Amendment, which prohibited the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion.
Therefore, the influence of the Puritan church and government on American democracy was prominent in shaping a structured government but was more aligned with establishing a theocracy rather than advocating for religious freedom or democracy in its true sense. The rejection of a monarchy and movement towards republicanism post-independence was against the Puritan heritage but was an outcome of the revolutionaries seeking a form of government that offered more freedom and equality.