No; the last declared US war was WWII. The resolution simply allowed the president to use whatever force he needed to use.
Authority for the US president (LBJ) to commence war against North Vietnam.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
It transformed the guerrilla war in South Vietnam into a conventional war in both South Vietnam and a war directly against North Vietnam.
This incident created open warfare between North Vietnam and the US in 1964.
He now could conduct OPEN WAR against North Vietnam.
it caused president johnson to send more troops to vietnam
Prior to the resolution, Vietnam was strictly a guerrilla war; fought between government forces and southern (VC) communist guerrillas. After the resolution; the US committed conventional US troops and commenced open warfare against the North Vietnam. Translation: Vietnam converted from a un-conventional guerrilla war into a conventional war against another country (minus nuclear weapons).
Because it changed what had been a simple guerrilla war in South Vietnam into an open conventional war in both South VN and North Vietnam. There was no open direct hostilities against NORTH Vietnam prior to the Tonkin Gulf.
Escalated the Vietnam War from a guerrilla war into a conventional war against North Vietnam.
War against North Vietnam started on 07 August 1964 with the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
Both nations were created in 1954/55. North defeated the South on 30 April '75; 1975 one nation/Vietnam.