1. why are there active volcanoes along the pacific coast in washington and oregon but not along the east coast of the united states?

The reason why there is intense geological activity in Washington and Oregon is

because both states are part of what is known as the "Pacific ring of fire."  All

around the Pacific Basin there are not only volcanoes but also tsunamis and

earthquakes.  The San Andreas fault is another example of such geological

activity in California.  The study of plate tectonics applies here, and is

most interesting.