"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. . . . This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the peace and security of the area is reasonably assured."
— Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964
The passage of this resolution most directly led to which of the following?
- A significant escalation of direct United States military deployment and combat operations in VietnamAnswer
- BThe immediate signing of the Paris Peace Accords to end direct military involvement
- CThe abandonment of the United States' broader containment policy in Southeast Asia
- DThe passage of congressional legislation restricting the president's ability to commit troops abroad
Answer
A significant escalation of direct United States military deployment and combat operations in Vietnam
The correct answer is correct because the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution granted President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to use conventional military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war, leading directly to a rapid escalation of US combat troop deployment.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The escalation of US military involvement in Vietnam through presidential authority.