How did the Gulf of Tonkin resolution expand the powers of the president?

Answer 1

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1964, essentially gave the president, specifically President Lyndon B. Johnson, broad authority to use military force without a formal declaration of war. It allowed the president to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against U.S. forces and to prevent further aggression. This expanded the president's powers by granting him the authority to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam without the need for a formal declaration of war by Congress. This resolution essentially paved the way for the escalation of the Vietnam War by giving the president the discretion to determine the extent of U.S. military involvement in the conflict.