15) although forbidden prior to georgia becoming a royal colony, wealthy planters began importing slaves into the region. as a result, question 15 options: the number of large plantations along the sea coast grew rapidly from 1750-1775. the colony fell even further into decline and entered into an economic depression. the number of fatalities from diseases like malaria and yellow fever rose drastically. james oglethorpe immediately declared georgia a rebellious state and went back to england.