2. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
In August 1964, a controversial naval encounter in the Gulf of Tonkin dramatically altered America’s involvement in Vietnam. Reports claimed North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy, prompting President Lyndon B. Johnson to seek congressional authorization for military action. Congress swiftly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting Johnson expansive powers to escalate U.S. military operations without a formal declaration of war. Later investigations questioned the accuracy of initial reports, fueling debate over whether the incident was exaggerated or manipulated. Nevertheless, it marked a pivotal turning point, thrusting America into full-scale warfare in Vietnam.
