Final answer:
The mechanical reaper invented by Cyrus McCormick made cutting corn and other grains easier for farmers, which increased agricultural productivity and efficiency, contributing to the industrialization of agriculture in the 19th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The machine that made cutting corn easier for farmers was the mechanical reaper, invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831. The introduction of this machine transformed agricultural practices by mechanizing the previously labor-intensive process of using a scythe to cut and gather wheat for harvest. Initially tested on his family's plantation with the help of enslaved workers, McCormick continued to improve the design. Eventually, the increased demand led McCormick to establish the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago. The mechanical reaper, along with John Deere's improvements to plows, greatly increased agricultural productivity and opened the prairies to farming, making states like Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois major agricultural contributors.
These innovations were part of a broader trend of increased agricultural mechanization, which included inventions like the gasoline-powered tools, improved plows, threshers, and combine harvesters. Such machines enabled a single farmer to produce larger quantities of crops more efficiently, leading to lower food costs and the transformation of agriculture into a more industrial sector. The developments not only boosted production but also facilitated the growth of larger commercial farms and contributed to the struggle of smaller family farms due to the capital expense of new technology.