The Strategic Defense Initiative was a missile defense system intended to protect the United States from attacks from nuclear weapons. It was announced by President Reagan on 23 March 1983.
The SDI was nicknamed 'Star Wars' by the Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy, after the 1977 film by George Lucas.
SDI focused on intercepting and destroying enemy missiles with lase beams, using x-rays lasers. Chemical laser was also in use, as well as neutral particle beam and hyper- velocity railgun.
SDI officially ended in 1993, under the Clinton administration.
During this time, he was the lead author of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, introduced the first initiative to create the Peace Corps, and chaired the Select Committee on Disarmament.
The slave trade had devastating effects in Africa. Economic incentives for warlords and tribes to engage in the slave trade promoted an atmosphere of lawlessness and violence. Depopulation and a continuing fear of captivity made economic and agricultural development almost impossible throughout much of western Africa.
