By the 1850s, what factor had enabled westerners to increase their economic and political power?

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The mechanical reaper, invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831, significantly increased the efficiency of farming, allowing for larger scale production. Speedy transportation, notably the expansion of the railroad network, facilitated the movement of goods, including agricultural products, to markets more efficiently. These innovations combined to enhance the economic and political power of westerners in the United States during the 1850s.

By the 1850s, What Factor Had Enabled Westerners to Increase