Congress got busy early in 1877. The year began during the heavily disputed results of the 1876 Presidential election between Samuel J. Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes. The question remained open and was hotly debated for months after the election. As Inauguration Day on March 4 quickly approached, congressional leaders were forced to negotiate concessions to resolve the matter. The final decision came to be known as the Compromise of 1877, which installed the Republican Hayes as the 19th President of the United States, but granted Democrats political conditions which effectively ended Reconstruction.[1]

In February, Congress passed the Agreement of 1877, ending the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The act led to the legal exploitation of natural resources in the Black Hills by white miners and hunters.[2] In March, the Desert Land Act was passed, which promoted the development of arid and semi-arid public lands of the West.[2]

The Maverick Brothers started the year separately. In January,[4] Bret met Doc Holliday for the first time in Wichita[5] while traveling from Texas to Denver.[6] Shortly afterwards, he learned of the talents of Poker Alice, and began an earnest search for the lady quickly becoming known as the best poker player in the West.[7] And in February, he met Lefty Dolan, who's death set him on a year-long mission to get the innocent Jedd Ferris freed from a life sentence in prison.[8] Brother Bart's year did not start off favorably. Wintering in the New Mexico Territory as the result of a broken leg and a huge misunderstanding, he was nearly hanged for the apparent murder of a personal friend.[9] Another misunderstanding led him to herding cattle again[10] and later, saving Brother Bret from a personal showdown by posing as he infamous John Wesley Hardin.[11]