the election of lincoln as president in 1860 opened a new era of republican dominance based in the industrial north and agricultural midwest. the third party system was dominated by the republican party (it lost the presidency only in 1884 and 1892). lincoln proved brilliantly successful in uniting the factions of his party to fight for the union in the civil war. however, he usually fought the radical republicans who demanded harsher measures. many conservative democrats became war democrats who had a deep belief in american nationalism and supported the war. when lincoln added the abolition of slavery as a war goal, the peace democrats were energized and carried numerous state races, especially in connecticut, indiana and illinois. democrat horatio seymour was elected governor of new york and immediately became a likely presidential candidate.