Well, they probably didn't is the answer.

The problem is fear and distrust. A significant part of the economy functioned through the use of slaves. If you are used to treating something as property and that thing is essential for your wellbeing, it is hard to now rethink this attitude.

In any society, the idea of comparison and threats are the worst in the poorer parts of the community. It is easy to think of every situation as a win-lose proposition - someone else's gain is your loss and vice versa. If you're starving, having someone else compete with you for food can generate existential fear.