Final answer:
The immediate impact of the 14th Amendment was granting citizenship to African Americans, providing them with equal rights and protection under the law.
Step-by-step explanation:
The immediate impact of the 14th Amendment was that it granted citizenship to African Americans. The amendment, ratified in 1868, defined anyone born or naturalized in the United States as a citizen, including formerly enslaved individuals. This was a significant step toward ensuring equal rights and protection under the law for African Americans.
However, it is important to note that while the 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship, it did not automatically grant suffrage rights to African Americans. Separate legislation, such as the 15th Amendment, was needed to grant voting rights. Additionally, the 14th Amendment did not specifically outlaw segregation or poll taxes, which were addressed by later legislation and court decisions.
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