Why does everyone follow Abigail as if she were a saint?

Abigail is very manipulative. Her main motive for unleashing the hysteria in the town seems to be revenge against Elizabeth Proctor. She tells lies and manipulates people, especially girls, to achieve her own ends. She is able to convince people that they are acting in their own interests when they are really part of her twisted vendetta. She eventually sends nineteen innocent people to their deaths.