Which colony was primarily focused on trading furs and later developed into rice-growing plantations worked by enslaved Africans?

The correct choice is South Carolina, as this colony initially focused on the trade of deerskins and furs, benefiting from its rich natural resources and strategic location. Over time, South Carolina's economy evolved significantly due to the introduction and cultivation of rice, which became a staple crop in the region. The cultivation of rice was labor-intensive, prompting the colony to increasingly rely on enslaved Africans, who had agricultural expertise and experience in irrigated farming techniques from their homelands. This reliance on enslaved labor helped to cement the plantation economy in South Carolina, making it a central part of its economic structure throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

In contrast, while North Carolina also engaged in trade and agriculture, it did not develop to the same extent as South Carolina in terms of rice plantations. Georgia was initially established as a debtor's colony and had a different economic focus before evolving later in its history. Virginia, though significant in the early years of colonization and the tobacco economy, does not match the specific emphasis on trading furs followed by rice cultivation that characterizes South Carolina's development.