[MalPearce]

PC in late 18th century United States, a toast made to “the United States” might have had more positive if made to “the freedom/ the people of the United States!” or similar.

The World War 2 example demonstrates “politically correct” in a similar context, i.e. meaning “diplomatically prudent” or “discretion is the better part of valor”.

The opposite of PC in that sense is “faux pas” or “diplomatic gaffe”.

[chajin]

PC in late 18th century United States, a toast made to “the United States” might have had more positive if made to “the freedom/ the people of the United States!” or similar.

A toast made in the 18th century would have been to "these United States"; the idea of "the United States" as a singular unit comes out of the Civil War, I believe.