What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorize?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution significantly authorized the president to engage in military action in Vietnam without requiring a formal declaration of war from Congress. This resolution followed the reported incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin, where U.S. naval vessels were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese forces. The resolution, passed by Congress in 1964, granted President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to take military action in Southeast Asia, which effectively escalated the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War.

The context in which this resolution was passed reflects the growing concern over communist expansion and the commitment to containing communism, which was a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. Consequently, it served as a catalyst for increased military engagement. The lack of formal war declaration requirements represented a significant shift in the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches regarding war-making decisions.