The two primary conflicts in George Orwell's novel Animal Farm are between the animals and the humans and between the animals themselves. As the story opens, the animals decide that they want to drive the human farmer away and run Manor Farm on their own. Enthused by Old Major's ideas of breaking free from human control, the animals embrace Animalism (a new philosophy) and defeat Mr. Jones, the farmer.

The animals take over the farm, rename it "Animal Farm," and strive to make a success of their new venture. Mr. Jones tries to regain his farm, but the animals defeat him again in the Battle of the Cowshed. Later in the novel, the neighboring human farmers once again attack Animal Farm but are driven back a third time.

However, the human-versus-animal conflict is far from the only one in the novel. As time goes on, conflict arises between the animals, especially between the pigs Snowball and Napoleon. Napoleon wants to build a windmill, but Snowball argues against it. Napoleon uses his attack dogs to chase Snowball away, and he subdues the other animals through a combination of brainwashing and threats. The animals are no longer equal, and Napoleon turns completely into a tyrant and becomes more and more like a human being, even becoming the ally of the humans against the "common" animals and people.