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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following modes of transportation stops the construction of "The Biggest Bridge in the World" in 1846?

2. How long does it take Roebling to get his caissons into the water?

3. What do the Bridge committee think Washington is missing from his father's spirit?

4. How does Murphy feel about his old school-mate Tweed?

5. What is Roebling rubbed down with to return his circulation?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John Roebling divide his estate after death?

2. How is Tweed depicted in the newspapers of New York?

3. Why were both Manhattan and Brooklyn interested in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge?

4. What change in transportation would the Brooklyn Bridge allow between the two cities?

5. What happened during the "Great Blowout" in the river?

6. What type of wedding did Tweed throw for his daughter, and what was the effect of that wedding on Tweed's political career?

7. Why did the Rink Committee feel the need to form?

8. Why was John Roebling so devastated when his wife, Johanna, died?

9. How are the streets of Manhattan described in the 1850s?

10. How did James Eads find himself in the bridge building business?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Bends" was a horribly debilitating disorder that infected many of the workers on the Brooklyn Bridge, including Roebling himself. Explain how "The Bends" began its onset in the workers, and what its symptoms were. Then, explain what methods Roebling adopted to ensure his workers would no longer suffer from the disorder.

Essay Topic 2

The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge withstood many fierce scandals. Choose one of these scandals and explain how it came to the spotlight. Then, explain how the scandal affected construction of the bridge, and which characters were most affected by its headlines.

Essay Topic 3

The news media played a large role in shaping the way the public viewed the bridge. Create a time line of headlines that were prominently featured in the text. Then, explain how two of these major headlines affected the way the public viewed the Brooklyn Bridge.

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