When you're dealing with rebellion then quite often is does. Had we lost the revolution I'm sure that our view of the times would be much different.
Well, I would hope that we would become a bit more civilized in the past 800 years or so.
Citizens have rights. Might does not make right. If a collection of self-governing people choose to alter their form of government, that is entirely their right.
Of course, under a "might makes right" regime, the most oppressive and cruel dictator would be perfectly justified in his actions? If the United States government started imprisoning people without cause or suspended the "right" of free speech and replied, "well, we have all the tanks--what are you going to do about it?" you'd have no problem with that response? After all, might makes right....