Thus began the presidential contest of 1896, a defining moment in American politics. It was a contest about money, pitting Republican William McKinley against Democrat William Jennings Bryan. This election, referred to as the “Battle of the Standards,” was the culmination of a debate between the supporters of financial reform (greenbackism and bimetallism) and the defenders of the gold standard. It was also a battle over competing visions of America's political and economic future. In the three decades prior to McKinley's victory, the money debate was central to American politics. Half a dozen national third parties were formed, scores of state-level parties organized and the two national parties were reorganized around this issue. Hundreds of books and pamphlets were released in the argument over the nature of money and its role in regulating relations between classes and sections.