1. On December 9, 1861, the Battle of Coffeeville was fought between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Despite being outnumbered, the Confederates were able to defeat the Union forces and disrupt their plans to invade Mississippi.

2. The town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi was officially incorporated on December 9, 1892. The town is known for its beautiful beaches and seafood industry.

3. On December 9, 1907, the state of Mississippi held a constitutional convention to create a new state constitution. The new constitution was notable for its provisions that aimed to disenfranchise African American voters.

4. Civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer was born on December 9, 1917 in Montgomery County, Mississippi. Hamer was known for her work to promote voting rights for African Americans and her powerful speeches at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

5. On December 9, 2010, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour issued posthumous pardons to several men who had been convicted of crimes in the state. The pardons were controversial and sparked a national conversation about the power of governors to issue pardons.