Final answer:
Wegener's continental drift hypothesis was not widely accepted because there was a lack of a plausible mechanism for the movement of continents.
Step-by-step explanation:
One important reason why Wegener's continental drift hypothesis was not widely accepted was the lack of a plausible mechanism for the movement of continents. Although Wegener presented evidence such as the fit of the continents, matching fossils, and matching mountain ranges, he couldn't explain how solid continents could drift over thousands of miles. Scientists at the time needed a clearer understanding of plate tectonics, which would take decades of further progress in geology, oceanography, and geophysics.