New York, the largest city in the United States, had become even more prosperous after the war. Since 1865, the American economy had started to recover, and it seemed as if everyone's life had suddenly improved.
Of course, this was just an illusion. Happiness is relative, and compared to the war years, living standards had indeed risen significantly.
The United States was rich in resources. Due to the war, there had been a significant decrease in population, especially among young adults.
Under the influence of supply and demand, in order to secure enough labor, capitalists had no choice but to introduce cheap black labor on one hand and to raise wages on the other to retain their original workers.
The increase in income had eased social conflicts. It was the weekend, and Tom had asked his girlfriend Eilinna out for a date.
"Tom, have you noticed that goods have gotten a lot cheaper recently? A skirt I admired last month has dropped by half in price," Eilinna said.
