why did the events in the western regions of the country occupyso much of washingtons time and attention?

After the revolutionary war ended, George Washington only wanted to resume his life and start improving his personal finances. His plantation was not producing income and he had not being able to collect rent from his lands in the west.

This situation made him start a trip to the west and on the way he realized that the roads were in bad conditions and had not improved since before the war. He figured that the Potomac River navigation was necessary to improve trade between the east and the west lands. He started lobbying for developing this trade route, he wanted to improve business within the country and create a stronger union. He knew that establishing this trade will require states to work together. Slowly various states among the Potomac and Ohio river started to work together with the aim of improving trade. After various sucessful agreements between states the union of the U. S. grew stonger.

This is how the 1784 trip to the west unintentionally led George Washington back into public service which ultimately led to the creation of the United States Constitution in the summer of 1787.