1. On March 9, 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy, following in the footsteps of South Carolina. This decision led to the outbreak of the Civil War a month later.

2. On March 9, 1876, Mississippi Governor John M. Stone signed into law the state’s first comprehensive school system, which provided for the creation of a public education system consisting of elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions.

3. One of Mississippi’s most famous authors, Eudora Welty, was born on March 9, 1909, in Jackson. Welty is known for her vivid portrayal of the South, particularly Mississippi, and her works include the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Optimist's Daughter" and the short story collection "A Curtain of Green."

4. On March 9, 1937, the first public television station in the United States, WQED, went on the air in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This event would eventually lead to the creation of Mississippi's first public television station, MPB (Mississippi Public Broadcasting), in the 1970s.

5. Mississippi musician Robert Johnson, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential blues performers of all time, recorded one of his most famous songs, "Cross Road Blues," on March 9, 1937. Johnson's unique guitar style and haunting voice have inspired countless musicians across multiple genres, and his legacy continues to influence music to this day.