What technological advancement is John Deere credited with developing?

John Deere is credited with the development of the steel plow, which was an essential advancement during the Industrial Revolution, particularly in agriculture. His design, introduced in the 1830s, featured a polished steel blade that effectively cut through tough, sticky soil, which was a significant improvement over earlier wooden or cast iron plows. The new plow made it possible to cultivate previously unfarmable land, thereby increasing agricultural productivity and enabling the cultivation of larger areas. This innovation played a crucial role in the expansion of farming in the Midwest of the United States and contributed to the overall growth of American agriculture during that period. The steel plow marked a turning point in farming technology that allowed farmers to work more efficiently and led to greater yields of crops.