<span>The areas that the United States expanded territory in during the 1830s and 1840s was the northwest and southwest region, this included what is now known as California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Arizona. The expansion happened westward because people wanted a better life, they wanted new markets, an in the case of some people like Mormons, they wanted a better type of freedom. The land was cheap and everyone believed that Americans were meant to develop the area.</span>
Well at the time of the U.S. revolutionary war, there were 13 colonies, they were not referred to as states till later. far as what type of govt was wanted, at the time they were trying to break free of a monarchy type, meaning ruled by a king. The U.S. currently has a federal type of govt. so its safe to say that's the type they were wanting.
Because they can get water as well as ship goods in and out. also it helps to grow crops and build homes around a stable community <span />