In this thesis, I investigate several phenomena that affect the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). First, I examine what effects a hypothetical axion-photon coupling would have on the CMB polarization. I found that axion-photon coupling affects the polarization pattern, but alone is not enough to create B modes from E modes. I also investigate whether Faraday Rotation could rotate an E mode polarization state into a B mode, thereby mimicking a signature of primordial gravity waves
