Final answer:
The theory of plate tectonics was proposed by scientists in the 1960s, building upon Alfred Wegener's earlier idea of continental drift. Wegener presented evidence such as the fit of continents together and fossil distribution. The theory explains the movement of Earth's crustal plates driven by convection currents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory of plate tectonics was proposed by scientists in the 1960s, building upon the earlier idea of continental drift put forth by Alfred Wegener in 1915. Wegener presented evidence such as the fit of the continents together like puzzle pieces, the distribution of fossil and rock formations, and the alignment of ancient climate indicators on different continents.
However, Wegener's hypothesis was not initially accepted by his peers due to the lack of a mechanism explaining the movement of continents. It wasn't until later that the theory of plate tectonics, which explains the movement of Earth's crustal plates driven by convection currents in the mantle, was developed and widely accepted.