Here's a breakdown of the hypothesis:

Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist and geophysicist, proposed the theory of Continental Drift in the early 20th century. His hypothesis stated that:

* The continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea.

* Pangaea began to break apart millions of years ago, and the continents have been drifting apart ever since.

Evidence for Wegener's hypothesis included:

* Matching coastlines: The continents, particularly South America and Africa, appear to fit together like puzzle pieces.

* Fossil evidence: Identical fossils of plants and animals have been found on continents now separated by vast oceans.

* Geological similarities: The same types of rocks and mountain ranges can be found on continents now separated by oceans.

* Climate evidence: Glacial deposits and evidence of tropical climates are found in locations that would be impossible today based on their current location.

Initially, Wegener's hypothesis was met with skepticism. Scientists couldn't explain how continents could move through solid rock. However, the development of plate tectonics in the 1960s provided the mechanism for continental drift.

Plate tectonics theory explained that the Earth's outer layer is made up of large plates that move slowly over the mantle. This movement is driven by convection currents in the mantle.

The theory of plate tectonics is now widely accepted by the scientific community and explains not only continental drift but also earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountains.

In summary, the hypothesis about Earth's continents moving, now known as Continental Drift, was initially proposed by Alfred Wegener and has been strengthened and explained by the theory of plate tectonics.