Not necessarily. Surf over here for a powerful argument that armed insurrection against the government can sometimes be patriotic.
I have no disagreement with our Declaration, but still believe the historical difference between a Traitor and a Founding Father is based entirely on the outcome of the conflict.
At the time of the Declaration of Independence, approximately one-third of our proto-nation wanted independence, one-third (Tory) were loyal to Britain, and about one-third either didn’t care or were slaves.