The Gulf of Tonkin Incident refers to a significant event that took place in August 1964, involving two naval confrontations between the United States and North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. The first incident reportedly involved a U.S. destroyer, the USS Maddox, being attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. A second, more disputed incident allegedly occurred shortly afterward. These events prompted the U.S. Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization to use military force in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war. This escalation marked the start of substantial U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, deeply impacting American foreign policy.