The Boers created two republics in South Africa as they did not want to be under British rule. This led to conflict and the Boer War between 1899-1902 which the British eventually won. They then established the Union of South Africa as a self-governing nation within the British Empire. Most European nations ruled their African colonies directly while the British used indirect rule, still maintaining control over major decisions and not allowing other groups to rule. In the early 1900s, educated African leaders began organizing movements to end colonial rule as they resented the unfair treatment of their people.