Starting from a 1986 song about how attitudes had changed in the time since World War II, a look at the passage of time, and how it affects the way people think about history.

 

You can listen to Big World on Joe Jackson's site - "Forty Years" is track 9: http://joejackson.com/music&album_id=36852

Information about the album, including recording date (January 1986) and release date (March 1986)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_World 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._John_Brown

Charlestown, Va. 2nd December, 1859. I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1860

Evidently in the mid-19th century, it was not common for candidates to campaign.  They sent out activists but mostly stayed home themselves, with Stephen Douglas being the one breaking tradition in 1860.

https://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/campaigns-and-elections

https://www.sethkaller.com/item/1583-23646-Lincoln-Tops-the-Field-in-1860-Presidential-Election-Currier-&-Ives

This essay from Locke is dated 1690…so nearly fifty years after Gallileo's death, 60 after his trial.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Essay_Concerning_Human_Understanding

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

I had to look up how long Elizabeth and Victoria reigned.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabethan_era

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria

 

You can find me on Twitter: @generationalize and blogging at  http://crisis.generationalize.com