The Pride of Plain Speaking

The video explores the historical significance of plain speaking in American and European contexts. It highlights the American desire to break away from European artifice and embrace transparency, especially in political and cultural life. The discussion includes the deceptive practices in American history, such as the handling of slavery and the 3/5 clause. The video also examines the shift towards plain speaking in late 19th-century American literature and its parallel in European war poetry during World War One, emphasizing a move away from high rhetoric to more direct expression.

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