Final answer:
Insubordination in the American Revolution context involved acts of disobedience or defiance towards British authority, notably by military figures, which set the stage for the outbreak of armed conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
Insubordination during the time of the American Revolution refers to the act of outright defiance or disobedience towards higher authority or official orders, particularly by military personnel. During the revolutionary period, tensions arose with colonists who began to disobey and challenge the British governance due to a series of punitive laws such as the Intolerable Acts. This anger and resentment towards the British crown culminated in various forms of insubordination, including armed conflict, setting the stage for the Revolutionary War. One manifestation of insubordination occurred when higher-ranking officers would engage in battle out of resentment, without waiting for the commander-in-chief's decision, which could lead to disastrous outcomes as they did not fully grasp the strategic position of their forces. Similarly, the colonies' disaffection with Britain and the subsequent organization of militias and stockpiling of arms at places like Lexington and Concord were also acts of insubordination that escalated hostilities. Pushed by grievances like the forced quartering of British soldiers, cited in the Declaration of Independence, and economic hardships post-war as seen in Shays' Rebellion, the colonists increasingly refused to recognize British authority, which led to the assertion of their independence and the formation of a new nation.