How did the Radical Party represent Chile’s growing middle class after 1888?

The Radical Party originated as a dissenting faction of the Liberal Party that advocated for the secularization of Chile. Following its formal establishment in 1888, the party increasingly served as a political voice for the country's growing middle class.12

During this period, the development of a state bureaucracy, along with the expansion of commerce and railroads, fostered the emergence of urban social groups that were distinct from the traditional landed oligarchy. These groups became more conscious of their potential political influence, and the Radical Party progressively aligned itself with their interests. While other parties, such as the Democratic Party, focused specifically on the needs of artisans and urban workers, the Radical Party became the primary vehicle for representing the broader concerns of the middle class.312