Question

What event led to the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

Answer 1

Answer: Alleged attacks by North Vietnam against US naval ships in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Detail:

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a measure passed by US Congress that allowed the US President to make military actions, like increase troops, without formal declaration of war.  It led to huge escalation of US involvement in the Vietnam War. The resolution was passed by Congress in August, 1964, after alleged attacks on two US naval ships in the Gulf of Tonkin.  The key wording in the resolution said:

• Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.

That resolution served as a blank check for President Johnson to send troops to whatever extent he deemed necessary in pursuance of the war.  Between 1964 and the end of Johnson's presidency in 1969, US troop levels in Vietnam increased from around 20,000 to over 500,000.

Answer 2

An alleged attack on two US Navy ships by North Vietnamese torpedo boats  

Further Explanation:

In the year 1964, Two destroyers of the US navy fleet were stationed at Gulf Tonkin. This area is also known by the name of the East Vietnam sea. Gulf Tonkin is the one that separates Vietnam from Hainan which is a Chinese island. These destroyers were stationed there to support South Vietnamese military raids. But soon both these destroyers named Maddox and Turner Joy reported being fired by Vietnamese patrol boats. Over the period of the next three hours, Both the destroyers were engaged in evading this surprise attack. It was Maddox which reported repeatedly being fired upon by torpedoes and automatic weapons.  

As soon as this news reached the White House, the president of the United States announced that they will strongly retaliate to this attack and he came up with the Gulf of Tonkin resolution. This resolution gave authority to the US military to get engaged in a full-fledged war and within little time he got the support of the House of Representatives and Senate as both these houses passed this resolution.  

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Answer details:

Grade: High School

Chapter: Gulf of Tonkin

Subject: History

Keywords: Gulf of Tonkin, Resolution, United States, Vietnam, Destroyers, Senate, Representatives, War, US Army, attack, military forces.