What was the stated purpose of General Dyer in opening fire at Jallianwala Bagh?

Correct answer: To create fear and terror among the people

The governing concept is the use of coercion to enforce colonial authority. General Dyer ordered troops to fire on the unarmed crowd and later defended the action as a means of producing a moral effect and intimidating people. In the context of the movement, this meant creating fear and demonstrating the power of the colonial state. Option A is correct; the other choices are inconsistent with the violent action and its stated purpose.