Final answer:
The characteristic that does NOT apply to all of the first six presidents is that they were all part of Virginia's elite slaveholder aristocracy, as John Adams was from Massachusetts and was not a member of this group. For the multiple-choice question, Patrick Henry was NOT a Federalist.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which characteristic would NOT apply to all of the first six presidents of the United States. The text provides information indicating that with the exception of John Adams, all early presidents were part of Virginia's elite slaveholder aristocracy.
Therefore, not all presidents being from Virginia's elite slaveholder aristocracy is the characteristic that does not apply to all of them. John Adams, being from Massachusetts, stands out. Additionally, we learn that there was a transition in political ideology with the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, which included pondering over the future role of the central government and a shift from Federalist to Republican ideals. The information also touches on the first partisan presidential election, suggesting that the early presidencies were charged with partisanship and ideological differences.
The answer to the exercise question on who was NOT a Federalist among the choices given would be Patrick Henry (b), as the other three individuals — George Washington (a), James Madison (c), and Alexander Hamilton (d) — were associated with Federalist policies or sympathies at various points in their careers.