The revolution resulted in efforts to abolish of slavery almost immediately.
By 1798, slave importation had been outlawed by all thirteen states. Between 1777 and 1804, eight Northern states abolished slavery altogether: Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. In the South, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina amended their laws to make it easier to free slaves. Largely as a result, between 1790 and 1810, the number of free blacks in the South grew from 32,000 to 108,000.

Though Jefferson only managed to free two of his slaves, Washington freed his, first teaching them marketable skills to assure that they'd be able to support themselves, and providing life long care for those who were unable to work.