Final answer:
President Bill Clinton's letter of apology was in reference to the unjust internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which is addressed in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This act not only offered an apology but also reparations to the survivors of the internment camps. Key figures such as Fred Korematsu played a significant role in the pursuit of justice and reparations for those affected by these wartime policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the letter of apology dated October 1, 1993, President Bill Clinton is apologizing for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The United States government recognized the actions rooted in racial prejudice and wartime hysteria leading to the internment of Japanese Americans as grave injustices, which violated their fundamental liberties. This recognition and subsequent apology were formalized with the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, an act which offered apologies and reparations to those affected.
The passage acknowledges the nationwide effort by Japanese Americans and advocacy groups like the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) pushing for redress. The landmark case of Fred Korematsu helped to overturn convictions related to non-compliance with internment orders and highlighted the 40-year struggle against the abridgment of civil liberties. President Ronald Reagan also issued an apology, and reparations began in 1990, with checks issued to internees by President George H.W. Bush. Korematsu's legacy reminds us of the importance of safeguarding individual rights even during times of national crisis.