History of direct democracy in the United States

Direct democracy in the United States is when people get to vote on things directly instead of having someone else do it for them. It's like if you and your friends are trying to figure out what game to play, and everyone gets to say what they want to play and then you all vote on it.

This type of democracy started in colonial America when towns would hold meetings where all citizens could speak and vote on issues. This was called a town meeting. As the country grew, this type of direct democracy was used less often, but it still happened in some states.

One of the most famous examples of direct democracy in the US happened in the early 1900s in Oregon. People were upset with how their government was working and wanted to have more control over it. So, they came up with a way for citizens to propose and vote on laws themselves, without needing politicians to do it for them. They called it the initiative process.

Today, almost half of the US states have some form of direct democracy, meaning citizens get to vote on certain issues directly. For example, in California, people can propose and vote on new laws themselves through the initiative process. But it can be complicated and sometimes confusing, so people should learn all about the issue they want to vote on before making a decision.