The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 triggered the war between the union and the confederacy.Lincoln wanted to end slavery and keep the Union together. report this answer. Updated on Thursday, February 02 2012 at 04:17AM EST. Source: www.radford.edu/...he election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 triggered the war between the union and the confederacy. Lincoln wanted to end slavery and keep the Union together. report this answer.