Final answer:
Punishments for challenging Puritan authority included banishment, excommunication, execution in cases like the Salem witch trials, and other severe measures such as property confiscation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The punishment for those who challenged Puritan authority varied, but commonly included banishment and excommunication, as exemplified by the cases of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams, both of whom were banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. During times of heightened fear and suspicion, such as the Salem witch trials in 1692, the consequences for those accused of witchcraft, often without substantial evidence, were even more severe, leading to executions. Additionally, there were instances of punitive measures such as property confiscation and the threat of using lethal force against rebels, highlighting the intolerance of dissent within Puritan communities.