What is this spiky tree?

Question

What is this spiky tree as seen in northern Mississippi?

Another one:

Answer 1

This looks like Zanthoxylum clava-herculis to me based on the distinctive look and region that you mentioned. It's also known as the Hercules' club, pepperwood, or southern prickly ash:

Here's the range distribution map:

Answer 2

It looks strikingly similar to these pictures in another identification post. Bamboo provided a bit more information about the plant called Ceiba speciosa. Perhaps the additional characteristics listed by Bamboo (bulbous base, not always pronounced) and the original poster of the similar/same identification question (thorns also present) are also true of the tree you found?

Bamboo stated it is commonly known as Silk Floss tree, native to parts of South America.