The idea that "all men are created equal" is a philosophy that motivated American revolutionaries in the late 18th century century and, although women were specifically left out, those who defended this doctrine believed that women, in their dull intelligence and strength, possessed a sense of morality that surpassed that of any man. Accordingly, it fell to women to raise true citizens for the new nation, according to what became the principle of republican motherhood. In a letter to her son, John Quincy Adams, Mrs. Adams exercises her motherly power by strategically organizing an argument based on ethos laced with allusions and optimistic diction to leave her son little room for rebuttal. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayMrs. Adams sets the stage for the rest of his letter in the first paragraph by noting the context of the letter and reaffirming the decision that allowed the situation to become a reality. Although she began by warmly wishing for his safety, she quickly changed tactics and, in a condescending but matronly tone, she acknowledged her son's "reluctance" to accompany his father on a trip to France, but stressed that he was not “capable of judging”. what is the right thing to do. This immediately conveyed the message that one must accept that she knows what is best and it essentially robbed John Quincy Adams of his sense of decision-making ability, which Mrs. Adams does repeatedly throughout of the letter and probably in person as well. In a society where women have so little, Mrs. Adams seems determined to hold tight to the reins of her power while pushing her son to follow in his father's diplomatic footsteps. Once established in the letter, the hierarchy of power has allowed Mrs. Adams to set strict expectations that she can confidently assume will be met by John Quincy Adams. His demands ranged from using his language skills appropriately, to achieving a level of achievement worthy of the benefits offered to him, to being an "eyewitness" of the revolution to honoring not only her and John Adams but also the country. Although contrasting in nature, all of these, if satisfied, serve Abigail's goal of putting him on the path to becoming the political leader she raised him to be. The use of ethos played an important role in allowing Ms. Adams to maintain her superior position which she supported with allusions and optimistic diction. In the middle of the letter, she cited powerful names such as Cicero, Verres and Mark Anthony. Unlike most families of the time, the Adamses ensured that their children were properly educated. So these were all names that were not only recognizable to John Quincy Adams, but probably also very influential. In other words, they were individuals that people aspired to be like, and they lived in a time somewhat similar to the American Revolution. Ms. Adams used this fact to assert that "this is an age a genius wishes he lived in." It is very likely that his son had negative feelings towards the revolution. After all, it forced his father to work and travel constantly, also forcing him to travel and grow up suffering from the violence and punitive laws imposed by the British. In this section of the letter, she combats negativity by associating legendary leaders with the struggles and.