Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a 1964 U.S. congressional measure that allowed President Lyndon B. Johnson to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war. It followed incidents where U.S. ships were reportedly attacked by North Vietnamese forces. The resolution marked a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, leading to increased troop deployments. However, later investigations revealed that the incidents leading to the resolution were misrepresented, raising questions about the legitimacy of the U.S. government's actions in the conflict.