Final answer:
Gov. Hiram Johnson and the CA Progressives embraced direct democracy to give citizens more control over their government and to actively involve them in the democratic process. Direct democracy allowed citizens to participate in the electoral process, propose and pass laws, and remove elected officials through the recall process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gov. Hiram Johnson and the CA Progressives embraced direct democracy because they believed that citizens should have more control over their government and be more actively involved in the democratic process. They saw direct democracy as a way to achieve a more perfected democracy and address the needs of the people.
Progressives fought for democratic reforms that allowed citizens to directly participate in the electoral process, such as the direct primary, direct election of U.S. senators, and initiatives and referendums that allowed citizens to propose and pass laws. These reforms gave people a greater and more direct connection with their government.
Direct democracy also allowed citizens to remove elected officials through the recall process, which was another form of citizen participation in government. The recall of California Governor Gray Davis in 2003 serves as an example of how the recall process can be used to remove a government official from office.