Fred Siegel of the Manhattan institute and the progressive institute and a prof at cooper-union in ny agrres with your theory but not the time frame bats.

His claim is that entitlement really began in the years of the great society. Prior to that poor that people moved from the south to the north were taught by established family/ friends what was acceptable behavior; i.e. social capital was important it was beneficial to act right. Then came the great society and gov't interference in what once was the domain of the established culture. I am working from memory as I could not find a link to his book but I am close on his take on things.

However, what difference does it make now? And this baby college is a great idea.