Try this twist, you have a functional United African Federation, ala Golden Age sci fi. A big chunk of that gets brought through to a Q6 world experiencing the 1860's. After saving Lincoln and making an alliance with
Douglass and other radicals, the timelost (or they assume they are) seek to empower the masses. Marx, Lincoln, Douglas,
Jones and others like them are they're allies. The Crowned Heads of Europe and their allies stand against them.