How would you explain the development of the plate tectonic theory?

The plate tectonic theory is the study of the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, which consists of the outer crust and part of the mantle. The theory was originally proposed as the theory of Continental Drift by Alfred Wegener in 1912. However, it was rejected due to the absence of a mechanism to move the massive continents. The geosyncline theory, which was the established theory for mountain formation at the time, also contradicted the Theory of Continental Drift. This led to opposition from the scientific community, including the leaders of Neo-Darwinian Evolution Theory. As a result, Wegener's theory remained neglected for years. However, during World War II, magnetic studies of the mid Atlantic ridge provided strong empirical evidence that the Theory of Continental Drift was correct. This evidence of seafloor spreading in the 1940s supported the concepts of Continental Drift. Further studies of the Rift valleys provided even more proof that the Continents were moving. Convection currents in the magma of the mantle provided a mechanism for the movement of the continents. Wegener's Theory was renamed Plate Tectonics in 1960 and gained wide support. According to the revised theory, the movement of the Earth's lithosphere is due to slow, uniform motions of less than 2.5 cm per year, instead of rapid, sudden plate movements of more than 250 cm per year. Adjustments were made to the evolutionary timeline to match the continents' spreading. It took nearly 50 years for empirical evidence to overcome the conflict between established theory and empirical evidence, leading to the acceptance of the Plate Tectonic theory. The resolution of this conflict required a compromise between the new and established theories.