What was the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, passed by Congress in August 1964, was significant because it authorized increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. Following the reported incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin, where U.S. ships were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese patrol boats, the resolution provided President Lyndon B. Johnson with broad powers to use military force in Southeast Asia without an official declaration of war. This escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, leading to the deployment of combat troops and intensifying the conflict.

The resolution effectively marked a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy, as it shifted the focus from advisory and support roles to active military engagement. This increase in military presence had lasting implications for both Vietnam and the United States, contributing to a long and controversial conflict that would profoundly affect U.S. society and politics in the years to follow.