The Gulf of Tonkin Incident led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution granting President Johnson extensive military power in Vietnam and the later passage of the War Powers Act in 1973 to restrict presidential war powers.
The most significant effect of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident was Congress passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution on August 7, 1964, which granted President Johnson nearly unlimited power to escalate military operations in Vietnam. This Resolution gave Johnson the authority to deploy the American military to defend South Vietnam and marked a pivotal moment in the Vietnam War by allowing extensive American involvement.
Furthermore, the Gulf of Tonkin Incident led to the passage of the War Powers Act in 1973, which aimed to restrict presidential war powers by requiring presidents to consult with Congress before foreign troop deployment, report to Congress within forty-eight hours, and withdraw troops if Congress did not approve after sixty days.
In essence, the Gulf of Tonkin Incident and the subsequent actions by Congress significantly impacted U.S. foreign policy and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
https://brainly.com/question/32745995