Locke also makes many religious connections to natural law and man-created law, most often stating that we are ultimately God's creation and therefore we are his possessions. Because of that idea, we are all equal and have no reason to think of one person better than the other. Locke also declares that people are born like a blank slate and are innocent. In a state of nature people exist this way, however people do become fearful that they and their possessions are not safe so they develop society for protection of life, liberty, health, and their possessions. .
Rousseau differs from Locke slightly in his belief of how man behaves in a state of nature. Rousseau believes that man is born naturally innocent, virtuous, and free to do whatever they please, even calling humans noble savages in the state of nature. However in giving themselves up to the social contract and giving up their freedoms they are obliged to adopt morals that allow everyone to live in harmony. In the very first line in his book, The Social Contract, he says "man was born free, and he is everywhere else in chains." Rousseau argues that even though in the state of nature people are much more free to do what they please, eventually that state can get too hostile and people willingly give their selves, their possessions, and their rights to the greater good of the population. Locke and Rousseau similarly believe that mankind does not want naturally chaos and hostility, but instead prefer peace, cooperation, protection, and respect. Ultimately, this is why a government is created out of the social contract and out of the state of nature, subjecting themselves to the "chains.".
The social contract, according to Locke and Rousseau alike, is a silently understood and unwritten contract between the people and the government. Locke believes that people agree to exchange some of their freedoms for the security of their rights to life, liberty, health, and possessions.
