1. On November 12, 1817, Mississippi was admitted as the 20th state of the United States of America. The state was carved out of the Mississippi Territory, which was created in 1798.

2. On November 12, 1862, the first battle of the Civil War occurred in Mississippi. The Battle of Raymond was fought between the Confederate troops under General John C. Pemberton and the Union soldiers led by General James B. McPherson.

3. On November 12, 1933, the Delta State Teachers College (now Delta State University) was founded in Cleveland, Mississippi. The college provided training and education for teachers in the state and has since expanded its programs to include other majors.

4. On November 12, 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers spoke to a group of students at Jackson State College (now Jackson State University) about the importance of voting. Evers was assassinated shortly after this speech, becoming one of the most famous civil rights martyrs in Mississippi history.

5. On November 12, 2014, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) officially retired the mascot of Colonel Reb. The controversial mascot was considered by many to be a symbol of racism and had been banned from official university events since 2003. The university replaced the mascot with a new bear named Rebel Black Bear.