The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, passed by Congress in August 1964, marked a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. It followed alleged attacks on U.S. naval vessels by North Vietnamese forces in the Gulf of Tonkin. The resolution granted President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to use military force without a formal declaration of war. This led to the deployment of combat troops and intensification of air operations against North Vietnam. The resolution faced increasing criticism over time, particularly for its role in deepening U.S. military engagement and the subsequent casualties suffered during the conflict.