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Does literature that alludes to famous people, such as Daniel Webster and Andrew Jackson, still have the same impact today as when it was written?

I need this question answered so I can finish my essay for my English class.

The literature has the same impact, but if the reader doesn't know the context of the allusion, the meaning may not be as in-depth as it would be for readers who do know and understand the allusion.  For instance, when a person tells two siblings not to act like Cain and Abel, the people who know that Cain killed Abel in the Bible and then buried him in the wilderness would have a greater understanding of the statement, "Don't act like Cain and Abel"--in other words, love your brother, don't hate him to the point that you are feeling murderous.

Another example is when famous works from Shakespeare and Poe, etc. are referenced in Bart Simpson or some other contemporary show or commercial.  The message is still clear to all watchers, but those who understand the allusion will get a bigger chuckle or a deeper meaning from the situation.

The same goes for authors who use contemporary allusions of people famous during their time who may not be famous or perhaps not as famous and well-known during ours.  So, the point the author is making will be clear, but those who know and understand the allusion will have a deeper understanding and greater appreciation for what is being said.