-Fake incident was set up where an American destroyer was torpedoed (USS Maddox) -Led President Johnson to install the Tonking Gulf Resolution -Lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support -200,000 troops were sent in 1965 and 600,000 in 1968 -U.S. saw as another situation in which containment was necessary (SEATO)
Summary
A fake incident was set up where a US destroyer was shot at by a North Vietnamese ship so that the American's would have an excuse to go to war.