Is a colonist a patriots or terrorist?

    During our Socratic seminar discussions, we talk about about the smuggling of the tea by the colonist in December 16, 1773 and they called it Tea Party. But, if it's for the British official point of view, smuggling could be a result of death. During the seminar, someone ask if the colonist could be referred as patriots or terrorist?

For my opinion, I will say they are obviously a patriots. For me, what they are doing is a good thing since they cannot help but smuggle goods because it is the British's fault for giving them a high amount of tax in materials/goods. Remember "tax without representation", British soldiers just barge in someone's house in order to see if they bought any smuggled goods and just take them away without the owners awareness. Also that act violated the rights of the people. That also made the Colonists anger since they are the ones feeding those soldiers because without the Colonists, the British won't have any money to feed the soldiers, when the Colonists is already poor and the British want to have more money?! I think the British is just being spoiled that they are getting the advantages with the help of the Colonial people. So, I say, they have a right to rebel for their opinions as John Locke has just said about government should listen to the people's point of view.