The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, passed in 1964, granted U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson the authority to:
Collaborate with France and England
Send combat troops to Vietnam
Establish a trade agreement with South Vietnam
Negotiate peace with North Vietnam
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer: Send combat troops to Vietnam
Explanation:
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, passed by the United States Congress on August 7, 1964, granted President Lyndon B. Johnson broad military powers in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. This resolution was a direct response to reported incidents involving U.S. naval vessels—the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy—allegedly being attacked by North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Although the accuracy of these reports was later questioned, at the time they were presented as unprovoked attacks on American ships. This led Congress to act swiftly in authorizing the president to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.”
While the resolution did not explicitly declare war, it effectively gave Johnson the green light to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam, including the deployment of ground troops and extensive aerial bombardment. It marked a significant turning point in the Vietnam War, shifting the U.S. role from one of advisory and support to direct military engagement. By 1965, the U.S. began deploying tens of thousands of combat troops to Vietnam.
The other options are incorrect:
- Collaborate with France and England: The resolution had nothing to do with alliances or partnerships with European nations.
- Establish a trade agreement with South Vietnam: The resolution was military in nature, not economic.
- Negotiate peace with North Vietnam: The resolution was about preparing for conflict, not diplomacy.
In summary, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a crucial legislative action that allowed President Johnson to send combat troops to Vietnam, dramatically deepening American involvement in the war without a formal declaration by Congress.