Final answer:
The 14th Amendment was proposed by Republicans to grant citizenship and equal protection to African Americans. It impacted southern states by requiring their ratification and played a crucial role in attaining basic civil rights for African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Republicans proposed the 14th Amendment to give political equality and power to formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. The amendment granted citizenship to African Americans, protected citizens from discriminatory state laws, and ensured equal protection of the law regardless of race or color.
Its impact on southern states was that they were required to ratify the amendment before being readmitted to the Union. This amendment played a significant role in the attainment of basic civil rights for African Americans, as it established their citizenship and protected their civil liberties.