[katana]

In the context of his own time John Adams would been described as a "conservative" but you're absolutely correct that applying modern terminology to people of another age can cause problems. Look what the socialists have done to the once respectable title of "liberal".

On the other hand, the founders clearly believed that when a government becomes oppressive to the people (from whom just power derives having been granted to them by The Deity) it is supposed to serve, they have the right to replace that government with a new one of their choosing by force of arms. There are several elements here which today would be described as wholeheartedly Conservative.

The founders were "revolutionaries" but as Barry Goldwater said, "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice".

[ChinaThreat]

Liberals were called Torries at the time. Trusted in a tyrannous govt and failed.