The Gulf of Tonkin Incident

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident involved two alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces in August 1964. The U.S. claimed that North Vietnam had attacked the destroyers USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy, which led Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing increased U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. Later evidence suggested the second attack may not have occurred as reported, and the incident was used as a justification for escalating the Vietnam War. It remains a significant example of how information can influence government decisions and public opinion during conflict.