Final answer:
Cyrus McCormick profited from his mechanical reaper by establishing the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and utilizing patent rights to exclusively manufacture and sell his invention, increasing agricultural output. Option D
Step-by-step explanation:
Cyrus McCormick, known for inventing the mechanical reaper, profited from his invention by establishing his own company. After creating the reaper to improve the efficiency of wheat harvesting, the demand for this innovative agricultural tool began to increase.
Responding to this demand, McCormick and his brother formed the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago, where they could access a larger workforce. This allowed them to manufacture and sell the reapers, which, in turn, revolutionized farming by significantly increasing output, thus contributing to the growth of agriculture in the United States.
Although many inventors faced difficulty profiting from their inventions, McCormick took advantage of the patent system which gave him the exclusive legal right to make, use, and sell his invention for a limited time, ensuring that he could monetize his reaper effectively. Option D