Hello @Judymf! 👋
I'm happy to answer your questions:
Why must I enter my 1P password every time I need a password?
1Password protects your data by encrypting it using your account password. When 1Password is locked only you can unlock it by typing your account password into the app. You can reduce the number of times that you need to enter your account password by changing your auto-lock settings: How to set 1Password to lock automatically
You can also enable Touch ID, if your Mac supports it, so that you can unlock 1Password using your finger: Use Touch ID to unlock 1Password on your Mac
Why are there multiple entries for login sites?
There's shouldn't be multiple entries for a website unless you have multiple accounts on that website. Did you happen to import items from another password manager?
I need real basic “how to get started”.
The best place to start is with 1Password University which is a free resource. 1Password University includes lessons on 1Password, online security basics, and more. You can sign-up here: 1Password University
-Dave