Or maybe you should understand politics of the Civil War era. The parties were essentially reversed in ideologies during that era, Republicans were progressives and Democrats were converatives. Also, Lincoln (who was actually a member of the Whig party... look up that and see how "conservative" they were) freeing the slaves was a politically motivated act to end the bloodiest sustained conflict in American history. I do believe, good sir, you have just been "schooled" as the kids say.