During and after the Revolution, why did the emancipation of slaves proceed very slowly in the northern states?

• The northern states gave priority to slaveholders' property rights so that emancipation often was spaced out over several slave generations.
• Very few northerners saw any contradiction between freedom for themselves and slavery for African Americans. 
• Slaves were threatening violence in the northern states, causing many whites to retreat from their earlier willingness to support rapid emancipation.
• Economically, slavery was becoming more viable and profitable in the North in the 1770s and early 1780s.

ANSWER: During and after the Revolution, The northern states gave priority to slaveholders' property rights so that emancipation often was spaced out over several slave generations.