I'll add that under the current definition of terrorism, the Sons of Liberty would be classified as a terrorist organization as well, given some of their violent acts / economic terrorism.
The colonial forces largely employed guerrilla tactics as well, out of necessity when facing a larger, better financed and trained British army. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymmetric_warfare#American_Re...
The point of those attacks in western countries is to force their hand and make them withdraw their occupying forces. To rethink their foreign policy and make sure they don't see it as worth it anymore.
The biggest hawks were for the Iraq War before they were against. Then the troop body count was getting higher from sniper and IED attacks. A few years later a new president and electorate doesn't see the cost as worth staying and the withdrawal occurs. Terrorists mission accomplished!