In Spain, the term "Republicans" does not refer to members of the same family as America's Bush dynasty-loving Republicans. Much like the Republicans of Abraham Lincoln's era, these Spanish republicanos, active during Spain's Second Republic and Civil War, were supporters of the democratic system initiated in Spain in 1931. From 1931 to 1936, the Republic of Spain stood as a bastion of new democratic values, reforming the relationship between church and state, restoring land to lower class citizens, and diminishing the role of the military in Spanish society. The Nationalists, on the other hand, opposed these changes, opting for the Spain of yore: strong ties to the church and military, and a limited (or no) political or economic reforms for the lower classes. The Spanish Civil War erupted from a military coup as the Nationalists rose against the Republicans. Three years later, in 1939, the Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War, military leader Francisco Franco was installed as dictator, and his oppressive 40-year reign began.

— Sara J. Brenneis