What was the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is significant because it granted President Lyndon B. Johnson the authority to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam without the need for an official declaration of war. This resolution was passed by Congress in response to incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin involving U.S. naval vessels and North Vietnamese forces. The resolution effectively allowed Johnson to increase military presence and operations in Vietnam, leading to a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the conflict, which included the deployment of combat troops and an extensive air campaign against North Vietnam. This marked a turning point in the Vietnam War, leading to deeper entanglements and significant consequences both domestically and internationally as public opinion turned against the war over the subsequent years.