[rockrr]

But slavery wasn’t “alive and well” in northern states. Slavery had either been outlawed or a path to emancipation was in effect in EVERY northern state at the outbreak of the war.

[DiogenesLamp]

But slavery wasn’t “alive and well” in northern states. Slavery had either been outlawed or a path to emancipation was in effect in EVERY northern state at the outbreak of the war.

You are clearly leaving out the five Northern slave states. Slavery didn't end in the North until December of 1865, approximately 8 months after it was already forceably ended in the South. (In violation of the US Constitution.)