Here are the answers: 1. Cyrus McCormick - invented the mechanical reaper in 1831. It greatly increased productivity of wheat farming. 2. John Deere - invented the steel plow in 1837. It was more durable than wooden plows and could cut through tough Midwestern prairie soils. 3. Charles Goodyear - invented the vulcanization process for rubber in 1839. It made rubber products like tires and hoses durable and useful. 4. Samuel Morse - invented the telegraph in 1837 and sent the first message in 1844. It revolutionized long-distance communication. 5. Robert Fulton - built the first successful commercial steamboat,