Final answer:
Welfare programs became unpopular over beliefs that recipients did not want to work, leading to the 1996 reform aiming to incentivize work, with ongoing debate about its effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
It's true that welfare programs became unpopular between the 1960s and the 1990s in part because many Americans believed that welfare recipients did not want to work. The idea that public assistance was creating a culture of dependency and disincentivizing work led to significant welfare reform in 1996 under President Bill Clinton. This reform aimed to change 'welfare' to 'workfare', featuring work requirements and time-limited assistance. The debate over the impact of these reforms and their effectiveness in reducing poverty and improving independence continues to this day.